VANDERBIJLPARK. – The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) took to the streets and handed over a memorandum of grievances against smart meters to the Emfuleni Municipal offices.
Sanco members chanted struggle songs and demanded the resignation of the executive mayor of Emfuleni, Councillor Mahole Mofokeng.
The march, which started at Bophelong and went to Vanderbijlpark, took place on July 12.
The mayor is accused of spending millions of rands on KFC and Nandos while the community wallows in poverty.“Simon must go!” they shouted. “Emfuleni is led by the ANC government and it must take orders from its manifesto.The auditor general says the smart meter is illegal. Hence we demand the resignation of the mayor.
“Emfuleni is a monument to corruption, starting with the mayor and his officials,” they said. The BXC company used by the municipality to unlawfully install smart meters is unacceptable. The community demands a direct electricity supply from Eskom. Auction of land in Bophelong without consultation with the community should stop. The municipality must collect waste in the community. Illegal dumping sites should be removed.”
Mlungisi Hlongwane, regional chairperson of SANCO, said they want disciplined leadership, “We are not going to wait for the municipality to lose power.”Hlongwane said the SACP and Cosatu has taken a resolution for Councillor Mofokeng to step down. “As Sanco we are holding our cards close our chests for now. Nothing will keep us from raising our voices once the time is right.”
SANCO is declaring a war on poverty to honour the 1984 Vaal Mass Struggle.
The memorandum was received and signed by Emfuleni acting municipal manager Collen Kekana.
