The picketers belonged to different organisations and were demonstrating for different reasons, with some belonging to unemployment structures and political parties.

Some of the groups were protesting for the removal of the municipal manager, others raised their concerns about unemployment and high municipal rates. Executive Mayor Diphala Motsepe and council speaker Andries Mabena did try at one point to speak to the large disorganised crowd.

On Monday, Solid waste workers also picketed outside the civic centre over the outsourcing of services. The solid waste workers started their strike last Tuesday.