
Residents of Bekkersdal in Westonaria staged a massive protest action outside the Westonaria Local Municipal building on 21 August.
This was to air their grievances with regards to the apparent lack of service delivery in the area and the alleged nepotism within the municipal office.
According to one of the leaders of the strike Sibusiso Khumalo, they are fed up with empty promises from the Executive Mayor Nonkoliso Tundzi and the management in her office.
“It has been more than ten years now that we have been promised houses and jobs
“To date, we are still living in shacks with no water, electricity, or proper sanitation.
“This begs the question of why are these people still in power if they do not serve their communities?
“It just defeats the whole purpose of voting if you ask me,” says Khumalo.
He alleges that those in management positions within the municipality are constantly hiring their family members and friends to fill vacant posts which amounts to nepotism.
“There are hardly any job opportunities created by the municipality and if there are, they are merely for a period of six months. Friends and family members of those in management positions are often prioritized.
“These are the very same things that turn our children to crime.
“We want Tundzi together with her friends to step down from their positions as they are unable to run this municipality.
“As the saying goes, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,”
The municipal management team emerged briefly at the scene to sign a memorandum of demands.
According to the Westonaria Local Municipality’s manager Sekete Moshoeshoe, they have noted residents’ complaints and will revert back with comment in the allocated time frame.
Residents vowed that if there is no response with regards to their demands in the next seven days, they will return to the municipal building to intensify their strike.