Are political parties just selling lip service or will they deliver?

In recent weeks, we published news about people living in Malamulele who demand their own municipality that will focus on their service delivery needs.

Limpopo premier, Stanley Mathabatha paid an urgent visit to the area to talk to the people. Opposition parties criticised the premier for agreeing with the people and promising them their own municipality.

Mathabatha’s promises to the people made me think. Do political parties have the people’s interests or their own interests at heart?

My question is motivated by the fact that those opposed to the idea talk about the source of the money for this split as if the people of Malamulele did not pay tax. Nobody even mentioned the fact that the Thulamela Municipality is one of the largest in the province and is suffocating under the pressure.

Most reactions to the people’s request sounds like a contest for political power.

If it is money that stands in the way of these people getting their own municipality, what happens to the taxes that these people pay? They may as well ask to live tax free because the so-called demarcation board turned them down. They remain without basic services.

Our political leaders should wake up to the needs of the masses. Starting a new municipality should not be based on political power games. If this continues the people on grassroots level will revolt and these politicians will lose their power base. It is time to stop screaming democracy when there are still people who don’t have access to clean water.

Stephen Mbedzi is the editor of Capricorn Voice