VEREENIGING.-  The community marched under the banner of an organisation called “Vereeniging for change” demanding service delivery, and an end to crime. The peaceful group started the march at corner De Villiers and Voortrekker Streets and proceeded to hand their memorandum of demands to Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) and the South African Police Services (SAPS) senior officials who were waiting for them at the Vereeniging police station. South Africans of all colours, Ethiopians, Nigerians and other foreign nationals formed part of the march.

Amongst their demands is that there:
• There should be regular removal of waste
• The sewer problem should be solved as a matter of urgency
• That the vagrants that are all over town be moved to places of safety
• That there should be visible policing all the time (24hrs)
• That the cases of those who are arrested for crime should not ‘go missing’ and that
• Police should stop taking bribes from foreigners who are in the wrong with the law

They also demanded that a case against five police officers who were arrested for apparently dealing in drugs at the Vereeniging Taxi Rank late last year, be reopened. “As residents we are tired of seeing the state that our town is in while we have authorities that are there to take care of these concerning issues. We need action and responses as soon as possible. We are law abiding citizens and all that we are asking for is service,” said the residents. SAPS Sedibeng Cluster Commander, Major General Zodwa Molefe received the memorandum.