LEANDRA – Residents now have to travel to Kinross and Secunda when they need government or municipal services.
Protesters last month torched their multi-purpose centre where they used to get all the necessary government services. The protesters were demonstrating for land from the municipality last month.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality, Home Affairs and the Department of Social Services used this centre as a community service point where people could apply for their ID documents and social grants and pay their municipal accounts.
Now they have to travel long distances to Secunda to get their identity documents and any municipal services. Ms Marriam Mthombeni (67) is frustrated.
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“As old as I am, I have to travel to Secunda to pay for my services or if I have a problem with my stand.
“Why do our children do this to us?
“We are not saying they shouldn’t fight for their rights, but do not destroy what is useful to the community.”
Ms Mthombeni pleaded with the leaders to act and make good on their election promises. Ms Joyce Sithole said it will be difficult to get social workers if they have government grant problems. She now has to travel to Evander to register her third child for a grant, and she does not have that money.
“I have to pay R50 per trip, including a trip to the Department of Home Affairs. Where must I get that money?
“I am unemployed and we are already dependent on the grants of my other children,” she said.
Ms Thuli Mnguni, a mother of three, said residents should be wiser.
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“I want the community to be careful when they decide to destroy property that is supposed to assist us. Right now we are only left with a fire station and nothing else,” said
This is not the first time municipality offices were set alight. Protesters at Lebohang torched the Govan Mbeki municipal offices in 2009 in a service delivery protest that lasted almost three months.
The municipality then decided to use the multi-purpose centre, along with other government departments, to bring services closer to the community.
Leandra police spokesperson, Cost Prudence Motshaisi said a case of malicious damage to property under public violence was registered and no one has yet been arrested.
