Kriel residents not happy with councillor
It’s alleged by the community that the councillor has given the stands to other people while they are suffering
“In Kriel, we don’t have proper service deliveries, our roads are in a bad condition and lastly, our big issue is that we were promised stands ages ago, but lately we see other people busy occupying those stands, but we claim that we have a councillor!”
Unhappy residents on Wednesday, May 12 went to the Emalahleni Municipality offices to complain about their councillor, Ms Maggie Magagula.
They said they want the councillor to step down, because “she is not fulfilling the needs of the community”.
It’s alleged by the community that the councillor has given the stands to other people while they are suffering.
One of the residents, Mr Stanley Mahlangu told WITBANK NEWS that the councillor is not recognizing them, and they have had enough.
“She is taking us for granted; she does not respect us, that’s why today we have decided to come to the municipality to talk to the mayor about these issues,” Mahlangu said.
Ms Magagula on the other hand says all these allegations against her are not true because she has served the community to her level best.
“I’m surprised that people are protesting against me, I feel like they are being unfair because in 2019, I have managed to build them 398 RDP houses, and now we are busy with the electricity and the sewage pipes. I have managed to build a library and a school. I don’t know why they’re fighting me,” said Magagula.
The councillor further said that these people are demanding a lot from her and as much as she is willing to help them, it is impossible for her to help them all at the same time.
Magagula said she cannot tell them to take the land by force, because it belongs to the municipality, therefore as the councillor she will wait for the municipality to give her the go-ahead to give people the land if there is available land, but as for now, her hands are tied.
Magagula also said she no longer feels safe because she’s now receiving threats from the community and last week community members have burnt down her office which was donated by Eskom.
The MMC of Development and Planning in Emalahleni, Ms Hessie Masek says she doesn’t understand why Kriel people are fighting, because the available land is in the township settlements, and it’s for community development, such as business purposes, building schools or churches, therefore it is impossible for them as the municipality to give that land to the people.
She further says as the municipality they will place people in the available stands according to the protocol list that they have.
“There are people who are busy selling stands illegally, now they are afraid that they will be exposed, the truth will be revealed, and they are now protesting to stop the municipality to not place people according to the protocol. As the municipality, we are aware that people need a place to stay, but we cannot give them a go-head to occupy the land which is meant for developments. I strongly say as the municipality we won’t tolerate what Kriel people are doing now, they just have to pay back the money which they took from the people whom they have sold the stands to because that land is meant for developments, not to build houses. We have provided them with RDP houses, and now we are busy with the electricity, but yet again they’re protesting, I don’t know what they want now,” said the MMC.
Mr Lebo Mofokeng, Emalahleni Municipality spokesperson told WITBANK NEWS that as the municipality they are sending a strong message to the Kriel community members who are protesting to stop what they are doing and follow the protocol.
“We will let them know if there are available stands to occupy. The municipality would like to warn the members of the community to avoid invasions because this will result in the commotion between authorities and the municipality wants to warn people to stop selling the stands illegally,” said Mofokeng.
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