VANDERBIJLPARK – Dozens of Sedibeng residents marched to the offices of Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) on June 20 to protest against service delivery headaches.
According to demonstrators, some of the long-standing issues they raised include a lack of service delivery, pothole-riddled roads, an electricity crisis, and youth unemployment in the region.
The peaceful protest was led by the South African Civic Organisation (SANCO) and included residents from Vanderbijlpark, Small Farms, and surrounding areas who held placards.
Several organisations, such as the South African Communist Party (SACP), ANC, including the ANCYouth League (ANCYL)and Young Communist League (YCL), also formed part of the march.
Singing and chanting from the Vanderbijlpark License Department to the municipal headquarters, disgruntled demonstrators called on the municipality to address their grievances.
Speaking during the handing over of the memorandum of demands, Sanco Sedibeng regional chairperson Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, explained why they mobilised the march.
“We mobilised this march because of the problems our people are facing. About 22 000 households in Vanderbijlpark are without electricity. Ward 18 in Small Farms has been without electricity for 12 years now. Now and then, transformers burn, and our people are plunged into darkness.”
Giving a message of support, ANCYL regional chairperson Wandile Maluleke said, “We are not supporting this march because we are bored, we are supporting it because our people are frustrated. Provide services so that investors can come to the Vaal and young people get jobs.”
Sanco Gauteng provincial chairperson Mpho Sesedinyane said, “We are going to visit all municipalities in Sedibeng to make sure our people get service delivery. We want service for our people. We don’t care how they bring it, however, we want those services.”
Sesedinyane also touched on issues of unemployment in the region. “We must bring a solution, especially as the ANC. We just stop sloganing about youth unemployment. We won’t be cosmetic about the issue and make noise like a scratched CD. Unemployment should be addressed,” he said.
After handing over the memorandum, the municipality delegation comprising Mayor Sipho Radebe and several of his MMCs was given 14 days to respond. Radebe committed to responding to the issues within 14 days.
