Govt blamed for ignoring Vuwani danger signs

A potent combination of perceived failure by the provincial government to proactively step in prematurely by avoiding tell-tale danger signs and political warmongers serving their own interests is being blamed for Vuwani, where the situation remains tense after weeks of unrest that has rendered the area an imitation of a war zone.
Having recently returned from Vuwani on request of the national structure of Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veteran’s Association (MKMVA) in liaison with the ruling party in the province, acting MKMVA Provincial Secretary Lulamile Jack told Polokwane Observer that entering the area was tantamount to stepping into a war zone. He sketched a scenario of burnt out tyres scattered across roads, rocks used to blockade certain routes, passing motorists having to fork out anything between R2 to R4 in “toll fees” payable to youngsters exploiting the situation and locals needing purchase foodstuffs in specific pockets of trade mainly having to do so unobtrusively. “It is survival of the fittest,” he remarked in summary of the prevailing status quo in the area.
Alongside MKMVA Provincial Chairperson John Ngobeni, Jack was instrumental in recently leading a contingent of MKMVA members to Vuwani for a week. During that time they had assessed and monitored the situation across villages and witnessed the devastation at Mashau Tribal Office and a further 23 schools allegedly targeted by arsonist mobs, Jack said.
Apart from meetings with Police management and stakeholders, including a non-governmental organisation (NGO) operating in the area, they were engaged in door-to-door campaigns and provided security at Bungeni Stadium during an African National Congress (ANC) rally, he mentioned. According to Jack they were informed that they could only move around accompanied by Police as most areas were no-go zones.
“If the MKMVA formation was logistically stable they could have stayed longer to look at other issues, he indicated and added that they would have wanted to stay on until they saw tangible changes.
Jack referred to isolated incidents still erupting in a raging battle of individuals that has led to perpetrators having gone into hiding. He mentioned that tribalism was being used as a scapegoat. From what they could establish it was now more than a demarcation issue that dominated as locals were questioning why they had to fight for a municipality. Claims were aired that instigators of unrest were politically inclined or otherwise were businesspeople concerned about losing out on tenders or contracts if parts of their municipal area had to merge with another municipality, he indicated.
He questioned the fact that the provincial government, with resources at their disposal, have not detected the danger signs beforehand. The provincial government should be seen playing a bigger role in attempting to solve the problems in Vuwani and should’ve prevented it from the onset, he stressed. “Government should have taken the matter very seriously,” he emphasised, adding that intelligence on the ground should have alerted them to promises of a volatile situation that could have been avoided.
He reiterated that in the survival of the fittest, the majority of families in the area did not have any other option than remaining reliant on the provincial government for the education of their children while waiting for the problems to be resolved.
When taking an oath to serve the people of South Africa before resuming training in the MK camps years back they obviously didn’t expect people to exploit the democracy by burning schools or engaging in violence through service delivery protests one day, he stressed.
“It is our duty and mandate to assist and defend the young democracy the people fought for.” Jack concluded in calling on the people of Vuwani to take responsibility for their lives and the education of their children.
In responding on behalf of the provincial government, Phuti Seloba said for spectators to reach a conclusion they needed to be capacitated in dealing with such situations. One needed to engage on issues, he added. In reflecting on the inroads made thus far, he referred to the initial absence of a local campaign leader at hand and nobody being willing to engage upon the arrival of the provincial government in the area, but at the moment they were involved in dialogue. He made an appeal for people to continue supporting government efforts ensuring all lived together in harmony. They needed everybody to be players and didn’t need spectators, he concluded.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com