Bloemfontein community trapped by shutdown
This week’s total shutdown of the Bloemfontein economy, which was led by members of the community who said they are fed-up with the way the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is managed, left many local communities trapped at home and not being able to commute to work as roads were barricaded by burning objects and scores of people could be seen in the streets.
In an incident that shocked the entire Bloemfontein community, a 14-year-old boy from Heidedal, Liam Siegal, was shot and killed, allegedly by a security guard in an alleged looting incident on Monday. According to a statement by the office of the premier, Ntombela will assist and oversee the burial processes in consultation with the young boy’s family.
The protest also left shop owners with extreme damage and the manager of the Mangaung Metro Solid Waste division was hijacked by three males traveling in a bakkie while he was heading to work in his car on Monday. Shortly after the incident, this car was found on fire.
By the time of going to press yesterday, some normality had returned to the streets of Bloemfontein, despite the fact that yesterday was the second day of negotiations between the Premier of the Free State, Sefora Ntombela, the leadership of Mangaung Community Concern group, Mangaung Business Forum, and other stakeholders.
According to a statement released by the office of the premier, the meeting held on Monday, deliberated on the key concerns raised by the various stakeholders and included, but was not limited, to the following issues: lack of service delivery, access to business opportunities, and a sound management of municipal affairs.
The statement said the meeting was intended to develop a detailed signed agreement which would bind all stakeholders outlining all the areas of concern as well as the time frames for implementation and monitoring. A joint project management team comprising all the stakeholders will be developed as part of ensuring that the agreement is implemented in the interest of the community of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.
Ntombela said they agree that issues raised by the leaders of the community are genuine and must be looked into as a matter of urgency.
“The state of our municipality is not at a desired level, and that is precisely why the provincial government has intervened.”
The meeting further agreed to urge people to remain calm and allow this important agreement, which will be circulated, to be implemented.
Meanwhile the Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, said that thus far 70 people have been arrested and they were anticipating more arrests as the police are still in the various townships where more shops were looted on Tuesday night.
Makhele said at this point they cannot say how many shops in total have been affected but the situation was less intense then Monday evening.
By the time of publishing, Bloemfontein Courant had not received the outcome of the second meeting.
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