Sanco airs grievances in front of Lekwa’s municipal building
According to Sanco, ambulances can’t access certain streets because of the potholes in the township.
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) made good on their promise to protest at the municipal building on Friday, February 10.
The area was cordoned off between Beyers Naudé Street and Kerk Street and traffic officers waited on their arrival.
The rain that began falling down at about 10:15 did not deter the protestors who carried banners of Sanco and the Gert Sibande District.
A memorandum with grievances about service delivery was handed to MMC Majozi.
William Mosia, zonal chairperson in Lekwa, visited the offices of the Standerton Advertiser previously and informed the newspaper about their intentions.
They applied for permission to march at the Lekwa Municipality.
According to Mosia, Sanco was unable to schedule a meeting with both the executive mayor, Delani Louis Thabethe or the municipal manager, Malose Lamola. The chairperson then said he was fuming with anger.
Their memorandum stated that the mayor and his coalition are undermining the community and the opinion was expressed that a coalition government was not an answer.
The water scarcity was described as a disgrace and mention made of the proximity of the Vaal River, Grootdraai Dam and reservoirs. It was questioned whether water was treated at the Standerton Water Treatment Plant, calling the water dirty.
According to the document, toilets can’t be flushed and children have to go to school without taking a bath.
No water schedules furthermore are communicated and they want water from the taps, not the trucks.
“Water is a necessity, not a want,” the document read.
Refuse removal on a fortnight basis was another concern and the smell emanating from refuse bags described as pungent.
Sanco said the community and the children will get sick. Road conditions was the next issue.
According to Sanco, ambulances can’t access certain streets because of the potholes in the township.
The document also addressed load-shedding, saying residents in Morgenzon buy directly from Eskom and has no interruptions.
The community wants to follow suit. As regards billing, the Indigent Government Grant, was described as no solution.
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Lekwa has said in the past that their debt collection system will be intensified to ensure that those who can afford it, pay for electricity and those who cannot, be encouraged to fill in the indigent form to qualify for a subsidy.
The unemployment figure in Lekwa was addressed and Sanco demanded that locals be hired, not people from outside.
“Local is lekker,” the document read.
According to the memorandum, the mayor and general manager at Tutuka Power Station dissolved the Stakeholders Forum.
This does not sit well with them.
