Residents demand that Emfuleni Local Municipality mayor Mahole Mofokeng address them following a memorandum they had delivered to his offices earlier last month. The community complained in the memorandum that they were being harassed by MBD, a collection company employed by the ELM.
They also said that they need the amounts of rates and taxes to be scrapped and a flat rate to be introduced. They demand to be issued with title deeds. They also ask for evictions to be stopped and that employment programmes be introduced amongst other things.
The coordinators of the protests, Palm Springs Community Association, distanced themselves from the vandalism and looting of the Palm Springs Mall saying that this was the work of thugs. Newly appointed ELM MMCs, of Finance, Revenue and Asset Management, and Human Settlement Robert Thema and Jan Moshoadiba were sent to speak to the community but the community sent them packing, demanding to speak only to Mofokeng.
Later during the week Mofokeng addressed the community and calmed the tense situation. Police Spokesperson Captain Aubrey Moopela said that cases of public violence and business breakins were opened.
