SECUNDA – Ward committee members have called on the acting municipal manager of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mr Thisha Mhlanga, to quit his position with immediate effect because he has failed to improve service delivery in the area.
The disgruntled ward committee members were picketing outside Govan Mbeki Municipality’s Office and demanded to be addressed by Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, speaker.
The picketing began in eMbalenhle at Kgotso Hall where they were supposed to have a workshop.
They stopped the workshop and said it could not be business as usual while the municipality is in a crisis. They also pledged their support to the nine ANC protesting councillors and said their concerns are real.
The Govan Mbeki Office was locked and security guards and Mr Mhlanga’s bodyguards were monitoring the situation.
The ward committee leaders demanded to be addressed by a senior after they were told that Mr Zuma was not around.
Mr Mhlanga came out to meet the protesters and was told to quit his position.
Mr Collen Nkosi, ward committee member, said they were protesting peacefully and were not there to disrupt the municipal activities but to raise their concerns.
“Thank you for listening to us, Mr Mhlanga, however we want you to pack your bags and leave our municipality peacefully.
“You have failed us, the service delivery is very poor in eMbalenhle and we are sick and tired.
“Also pass out message to the mayoral committee that they must come to eMbalenhle Stadium to address us before the end of May.
“Tell then we want the mayoral committee dissolved and the municipality placed under administration.”
Mr Mhlanga said he has heard the concerns of the protesters and that he would take the message to the relevant structures.
While he was addressing the protesters, a group of police, including station commanders from all the cluster stations led by Brig Sifiso Cele, cluster commander, pitched up.
Brig Cele told the protesters to disperse. This resulted in a commotion as the protesters were not happy with Brig Cele’s approach.
After a lengthy dialogue between Brig Cele and the protesters, the protesters left the municipal premises.
