Lerato Park residents were left hanging again after Sol Plaatje Municipality mayor Kagisho Sonyoni made a new commitment that the local electrification project will start on Wednesday.
DISGRUNTLED Lerato Park residents were left hanging again after Sol Plaatje Municipality executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni made a new commitment that the local electrification project will start on Wednesday.
Sonyoni made the commitment on Monday after the residents marched to the municipality to demand answers as to why the project had not started on May 19, as per promises made earlier this month by Sonyoni and the municipal Speaker.
Sonyoni promised the residents on Monday that if the contractor is not ready to start work on the project on Wednesday, the municipality will take over the project.
The residents demanded proof of payment after an official from the municipality apparently “mumbled a confusing speech”, saying that it would be a “long process” to pay the contractor.
He gave the response after residents accused the mayoral delegation of lying to the community about the contractor having been paid.
According to the residents, they were aware that the contractor had previously stopped working on the project due to non-payment by the municipality.
On Tuesday, the residents said they were “more confused than ever” as to whether the contractor has been paid or not, because there is “nothing happening at the site”.
The residents said that the only thing that was delivered at the site on Monday afternoon, after their march to the municipality, was a transformer box.
They said that they went to their ward councillor on Monday night to demand to see the proof of payment and a confrontation ensued.
The residents said they were left frustrated after the councillor failed to address the community and present the proof of payment, as per an agreement at a community meeting after the march.
They claim that the councillor refused to present the proof of payment, telling the community that there was confidential information on the document that they were not supposed to see.
The police were reportedly called to calm the situation.
The residents have threatened to return to the streets if nothing happens on Wednesday.
“The time is ticking and the municipality knows that. We are not going to tolerate any more delaying tactics or political games,” the residents said.
Video: Soraya Crowie
