eMBALENHLE – Residents brought the township to a standstill when they marched to the Risko Fakude Stadium to protest poor service delivery on Monday, 11 June.
Roads were barricaded with stones and taxis and buses were not operating.
The Mall@eMba and foreign nationals’ tuck-shops were closed.
The protest began on Sunday when angry residents blocked the roads and burnt tyres.
The public order police had to use tear gases and fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in various extensions.
A protester was reportedly hit by a truck near the Charlie 3 four-way during the protest at night.
No one was arrested and a case of culpable homicide was opened.
This was a planned march organised by the nine ANC ward councillors from eMbalenhle who have decided to exclude themselves from Govan Mbeki Municipal activities because they were unhappy with service delivery issues in the area.
At the centre of their discontent, is Mr Thisha Mhlanga, acting municipal manager, who they accuse of maladministration and incompetency.
Reading the memorandum, Mr Nick Mathabe, convener, said Mr Mhlanga was seconded to the Govan Mbeki Municipality in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act of 2000.
“The community of eMbalenhle have noticed with dismay the unlawful secondment of the acting municipal manager by Cogta. A number of legislative imperatives were disregarded during that process.
“Mr Mhlanga was supposed to improve the cash flow of the municipality, but it has not improved. In fact, it is now worse than before his arrival.
“The Eskom debt was not more than R350 million when he took over, and it has escalated to about R575 million. The municipality is in the top five defaulting municipalities.
“Rand Water was not owed money prior to his arrival and the municipality now owes about R157 940 million. The municipality was able to service its debt to the water utility consistently.
“There are allegations that he colluded with contractors and paid them an exorbitant amount of money for cleaning 800 non existing toilets in eMbalenhle.
“The appointment of personal security to the acting municipal manager was procured without any proper legislation. This was supposed to be tabled for Council’s approval.
“This irregularity is costing the municipality an amount of R188 000 per month.
“Officials are shifted from their posts to non existing posts without consideration of the organogram.
“That resulted in irregular expenditure for the municipality. There is an official who acts in three positions. That is unlawful in terms of the Labour Relations Act.”
In the memorandum, Mr Doctor Mtshali, chief whip, was questioned about allegedly staying in the mayoral house.
The protesters said sewer spillages are rife in the area and are a health hazard.
They said power outages in eMbalenhle are still persistent and there are no plans in place that address the issue.
They said refuse removal is not done in the whole municipality and water supply remains a crisis in all of the communities.
The protesters demanded the following (unedited):
– The removal of the Chief Whip and the Mayoral Committee with immediate effect, especially Ms Ethel Nkosi because her presence to this Municipality has course the major collapse.
– The removal of the Mr Mhlanga within 48 hour and investigation must be commissioned.
– The appointment of personal security to Mr Mhlanga without the risk assessment is tantamount to fraud and corruption it must be investigated and the all the money paid to the security company be recovered from his personal account.
– The municipality must be put into section 139 because of the failure to implement section 106 successful.
– The matter of the 800 none existing toilets must be investigated and necessary steps must be taken for the companies concerned.
– All the compliances according the municipal policies have been disregarded by Mr Mhlanga and this shows the lack of Knowledge of the municipal environment and policies, then he must go.
The memorandum was received by Mr Sifiso Nxumalo from Cogta who promised that the department would respond within seven days.The march was attended by various organisations and local pastors.
