Vusi Banda who was the Chairperson of Mondlo Township Civic Organisation was shot dead in both his shoulders and back at his home on Thursday night. Banda is said to be one of the many people who fought for the rights of the people in Mondlo. This tragedy happens after the residents of Mondlo took it to the streets on Wednesday, raising their frustrations on service delivery like electricity and water cuts, contaminated water, abuse of elders and many other issues.

During the march on Wednesday, the residents went to the municipal offices to hand over a memorandum where they have highlighted their grievances. The memorandum stated that, the Mondlo community demands back their own municipality status, meaning that they do not want to be under the leadership of AbaQulusi Local Municipality. The reason why they say they do not want to be under AbaQulusi is because of nepotism, favouritism, non-existence of service delivery like block of sewage and waste removal. The memorandum also states that there is an unlawful cut of electricity with the aim of demanding a large sum of amount of money to reconnect it, it also says, ‘’Mondlo electricians bridge electricity because there is a shortage of equipment and when the Vryheid electrifications arrive, they say you have tempered with the electricity, without asking the reason and they cut off electricity. That is why Mondlo community decided to go for Eskom electricity due to the municipality expensive electricity units and crumbling infrastructure.’’

The other complaints noted in the memorandum are the issues of non-working streetlights, lack of social development facilities, negligence of heritage and public spaces. The residents gave the municipal officials seven working days to respond to their grievances. The Director for Community Services Mr Mthembu, received the memorandum on behalf of the municipality.

The community is still in shock after hearing of Banda’s death, the case of his death is still under investigation.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.