Battle for services spills over in Mankweng roads

POLOKWANE – The R71 between Polokwane and Tzaneen was blocked off with rocks and burning tyres along the Mankweng stretch of the road on Tuesday.

Police were forced to disperse rioting Mankweng residents with water cannons and rubber bullets.

This followed a protest march and the handing over of a memorandum of grievances to Edward Nkadimeng, a member of the mayoral committee, who was acting on behalf of mayor Thembi Nkadimeng. However, the crowd was not happy with the fact that the mayor did not receive the memorandum in person.

A resident who spoke to Review on condition of anonymity, said the municipality had cut the water supply to Mankweng residents last Thursday. “On Friday, the EFF called on the residents to meet on Saturday. The people cannot stay without water.”

The resident further said the meeting was not about politics but about community issues.

She also said Tuesday was supposed to be a peaceful protest, with people being asked not to open their shops or schools in protest.

Another resident said they were angry because the street lights in the Toronto area were not working, and their requests for them to be repaired had consistently been ignored.

A mass of residents marched to the Mankweng police station on Tuesday, with a large percentage of school children joining in.

Thapelo Rakoma and Matabo Mathekga from the EFF addressed the residents and spoke to the municipal delegation and members of the police management who were present.

They said they were tired of continuous promises going on for many years. They said the residents did not want to pay assessment rates.

They claimed the municipality had no right to cut off the water supply as it was an essential need and no notice had been given to residents in this regard.

They questioned the reason for paying assessment rates as the streets were not tarred after many years and street lights were not functioning.

The municipality’s response to the memorandum was demanded by today (Thursday), and some residents threatened unrest and making the area ungovernable if their demands were not taken seriously.

According to the EFF representatives, “we are not here to bring peace, but to bring sleepless nights. Violence is the language they (the municipality) understand”.

Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said the municipality had restricted services due to non-payment. “Accounts are sent monthly with the outstanding balance and due date for payment, and an indication that services may be restricted if payment is not received by the due date. Notices were also sent to the residents prior to termination,” she said.

She said municipal representatives had agreed with protest leaders on Monday that both parties would meet again today to discuss a likely solution to the problem.

“On Tuesday, the community submitted a memorandum with a request that the municipality responded to the issues raised by Thursday (today). I am awaiting final communication from the political management team on how community engagement will unfold from this point forward, and will send you an update as soon as I receive it,” she said.

By yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, the area was peaceful, however, according to a source in Mankweng, residents seemed to be preparing themselves to take to the streets again.

Provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto, said no injuries had been reported during the rioting. She said 13 people had been arrested for public violence, and would appear before court soon.