Mayor responds to ‘Gatvol’ protest
After residents embarked on a protest in front of the municipal building, the Executive Mayor addressed the crowd and offered a hopeful response.
Rand West City Local Municipality’s Executive Mayor William Matsheke has received a letter of demand after residents marched for service delivery last week.
• Read initial article here: Gatvol! Town’s residents unite against lack of service delivery
After residents gathered at the municipal offices on February 28 to protest for better service delivery, Matsheke appeared to speak to the crowd.
He stated that every Rand West resident has a right to protest.
Your right is enshrined in the Constitution. You must not be intimidated to march to the municipality.
“You must march every day because this municipality is not the municipality of the executive mayor. It’s your municipality,” he explained.
He added that the municipality would not allow the residents to disturb the culture of learning. He stated he did not wish for the march to create an environment where residents were not educated.
“People do not get job opportunities because they are not educated. I am here to listen to your letter of demand, and I have heard your seven-day [request],” he said further.
During the protest, the residents requested that all municipal issues be fixed.
Seven days are too long. It should be fixed within 72 hours – all the things you have requested here [in the petition] are readily available.
“Our financial statements are audited by the auditor general. They are easily available,” he concluded.
Furthermore, Matsheke read through the petition.
@caxton.jhbwest RWCLM mayor responds to protest by Randfontein residents about service delivery. #CaxtonLocalMedia #Randfontein #Protest
