KwaDukuza municipality mum on ANC protest
Seven days has since passed more than 13 times and still the municipality is mum on what actions it has or has not taken.
It has been more than three months since a protest at KwaDukuza Town Hall demanded formal municipal response within seven days.
The protest, led by the KwaDukuza sub-region of the African National Congress (ANC), disrupted a council meeting on August 31 and demanded resignations of senior KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) employees, among other interventions.
A memorandum with a list of demands was handed over to KwaDukuza chief whip, Humphrey Mbatha, and it was agreed that the municipality would issue a response in seven days.
Seven days has since passed more than 13 times and still the municipality is mum on what actions it has or has not taken.
This despite the founding of a rapid response team in February last year, which was specifically constituted to better manage municipal responses to protests.
A report on the team’s work was presented to council last week and detailed 31 protests across KwaDukuza over the last two years.
The August 31 protest is the only one listed as still pending.
“The last time I asked the question, I was told one day more was needed for the response. Many more days have since lapsed and it’s still pending. What is happening?” asked ActionSA PR councillor, Sipho Zungu.
ANC Ward 29 councillor, Sicelinjabulo Cele, sits on the five person response team and blamed the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) for the delay.
“We asked Cogta for guidance on the matter and they joined the next response team meeting. They arrived completely unprepared and that is why we cannot give feedback,” he said.
Council does not sit in December and the protesters will not get feedback until January 25 at the earliest.
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