POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Municipality has urged businesses in the city and other areas to consider today a normal day and continue as usual in view of an ongoing march in the CBD.

The march is being led by residents from communities on the outskirts of Polokwane such as Moletjie, Ga-Matlala, Ga-Mashashane, Ga-Maja, Seshego and Dimamo (Ga-Dikgale, Ga-Mamabolo, Ga-Mothiba, Ga-Molepo and Ga-Mothapo).

In a poster circulating on social media, it states that the communities will be embarking on a mass march to submit memorandums of grievances to various institutions in the city including the Office of the Premier, the Department of Labour, the SABC and others.

“Service delivery continues to be a problem under the Polokwane Municipality’s Mayor John Mpe who cannot give residents basic services such as water, roads, electricity, jobs and houses,” the poster reads.

It goes on to allege that Mpe practices nepotism, corruption and uses the police to “silence communities”.

However, municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said it is business as usual.

“Children should be in school and everybody else must be allowed to go to work and continue with their normal daily activities. The municipality wishes to affirm that no one has the right to infringe on the rights of others and to disrupt the economy. Any protest happening within the areas must be conducted in a peaceful manner and in line with the approved conditions of the march,” his statement read.

Selala added that law enforcement is on high alert and closely monitoring the situation in order to ensure that the day continues.

“No violence will be tolerated. The municipality urges everyone to remain calm and continue with their daily business,” he said.

The group’s first stop was the SABC where community representative, Hlaka Mamabolo gave the broadcaster 14 days to respond to their request for better coverage.

Mambolo said they are worried about selective reporting by the broadcaster about issues pertaining to the area and would like for an on-air programme to be created where they talk about issues that affect them and presents an opportunity to challenge and endorse political issues.

The SABC’s regional manager Oupa Mamabolo committed to perusing through the memorandum.

“I come from your communities and to show that we take you seriously, we have signed your memorandum and we have come with the Thobela FM and Phalaphala FM teams including the regional news editor, because it seems many of your concerns are around coverage of stories in your villages and other things you do there,” he said.

The SABC's regional manager Oupa Mamabolo committed to perusing through the memorandum.

"I come from your communities…" he said. pic.twitter.com/kNZqJ1PlQ7

— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) April 29, 2024

The next stop on the group’s path is the Office of the Premier.

The group have now gathered outside the Office of the Premier in Polokwane. pic.twitter.com/MKLpR07liu

— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) April 29, 2024