Longlands community members are demanding that a road improvement project in the Dikgatlong municipal area be stopped due to the alleged unfair recruitment of workers.
LONGLANDS community members are demanding that a road improvement project in the Dikgatlong municipal area be stopped due to the alleged unfair recruitment of workers.
EFF members alleged that the ward councillor had only employed ANC members on the project.
“We were told that if we don’t vote for the ANC then we will not be hired. This is not an ANC project – it belongs to the government,” the angry community members said.
Stun grenades were fired on the R31 near Barkly West on September 11 after the road was blockaded with rocks, while the Dikgatlong mayor’s house was stoned that evening.
The protest was redirected from the R31 back into Longlands after a meeting was arranged by the municipal manager to meet with representatives from the EFF and ANC on September 13.
Another meeting was scheduled with the Dikgatlong mayor for yesterday.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) arranged a community meeting on September 11 to discuss the labour required for an emergency contract on the R31 to “perform minimal work” and “ensure safety of the mobility of the road” while procurement processes were under way.
Community members stated that the five residents from Longlands, one from Delportshoop and one from Gong Gong who were recruited for the project were all ANC members who were selected by the ward councillor.
“The ANC councillor told us that we would be excluded if we did not vote for the ANC. This is not an ANC project. We will burn the councillor’s house down and shut down the R31 again,” they warned.
ANC regional spokesperson Sedukanelo Tshepo Louw said they were “highly disturbed” by the acts of violence and the attack on the mayor of Dikgatlong Municipality, Joyce Tshwanegae.
“The local mayor was targeted by perpetrators of violent crime. We urge the South African Police Service to work around the clock with the investigation, uncover its motives and bring the perpetrators to book,” said Louw.
“Targeting of public representatives is an assault on the core principles of democracy, as they represent the will and rights of our people.”
Louw condemned the violent protests and encouraged dissatisfied community members to express their concerns through the “proper channels” instead of resorting to violence.
“We urge deployees to give attention to recruitment and selection processes in the municipality, as it has a negative and direct bearing on service delivery. It is not our space as the ANC to engage on this critical matter, as we believe it is best for the municipality to handle and respond to it, without external interference.”
Louw added that ANC councillors had a responsibility to exercise an oversight role and ensure that community members received essential services without any fear of intimidation or favour.
