Kanana community calls for cllr’s head
Captain Neldah Sekgobela, Rabie Ridge police spokesperson, confirms Ward 80 councillor Melody Hlatshwayo was whisked away unharmed from the angry community.
Angry Kanana residents in Rabie Ridge took to the streets to demand the immediate stepping down of Ward 80 councillor Melody Hlatshwayo on May 12.
The disgruntled residents voiced their frustration about the lack of service delivery and electrification of informal settlements, and blamed Hlatshwayo. This is the councillor’s fourth year in her role, and residents claimed she had done nothing to improve the community and informal settlements.
Hundreds of community members marched to Kanana Sports Grounds to hand a memorandum of demands to Hlatshwayo, who was under heavy police guard.
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According to a community member Thabo Libeye, the situation became tense after the councillor tried to address residents upon receiving the memorandum.
“Residents did not want to hear any explanation from Hlatshwayo because she had failed to deliver any of these services, hence, we decided to give her our memorandum in black and white,” he said.
“We wanted her to receive it, sign and leave. Instead, she wanted to explain, and that’s what upset the residents.”
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Economic Freedom Fighters PR councillor William Matome Raholane said police had to respond with rubber bullets to calm the unruly crowd before Hlatshwayo was whisked away for safety.
“Hlatshwayo should have received the memorandum, signed it and left. Her biggest mistake was to try to speak to the angry residents, but residents did not want any explanation,” said Raholane.
Rabie Ridge police spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela confirmed that Hlatshwayo was escorted unharmed. “Yes, the police can confirm that the councillor was escorted out of the stadium by the police. There were no injuries reported,” said Sekgobela.
Read more: Authorities face the wrath of an angry community in Rabie Ridge
Speaking to the publication after the incident, Hlatshwayo said, “I have seven informal settlements in my ward, which are connected illegally to the grid, leading to transformers being overloaded and ultimately damaged. That is the challenge, and City Power comes on board, but it’s the Department of Human Settlements that is letting me down,” said Hlatshwayo.
Asked if the residents had been in their right to say she had failed them, Hlatshwayo blamed various city departments that only promised services but never delivered.
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