Residents of Mokopane are demanding jobs from the local mines, adding that the national government must intervene regarding the cash-strapped Mogalakwena Local Municipality.
The multiple villages around Mokopane were organised on Monday, 4 March 2019 by the Mokopane Task Team (MTT). This is a structure aimed at fighting for the rights of the local residents. The MTT declared total shut down in order for the relevant authorities to listen to their demands.
The MTT complain about poor governance at the Mogalakwena Local Municipality, accusing the municipality of nepotism, corruption and not listening to residents. The MTT claims that the government only introduces development to their communities once election time approaches.
The MTT demanded that their municipality be placed under section 139 of the constitution, which provisions that the provincial government may intervene in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. The residents of various villages around Mokopane believe that the municipality has not served them well as they are witnessing poor financial management, lack of service delivery and ineptitude among the administration of the municipality.
The actions of residents barricading the roads led to the management of Rustenburg Platinum Mines approaching courts for intervention, where the court order was furnished on Thursday, 7 March 2019. The MTT, along with ten other respondents, were interdicted from barricading the road, which gives access to the local mine.
Sello Boshomane, one of MTT leaders, confidently said that they will be meeting with their legal counselor to chart a way forward because they cannot leave the prevailing situation to continue while they sit back, folding their arms.
“We are not only concerned by the worrying situation in our municipality but we are worried that the mines around Mokopane are employing people we don’t know, as well as contractors who are not originally from Mokopane”, said furious Boshomane.
The MTT marched together with other residents to Luthuli House (ANC headquarters) to hand over their memorandum to the ANC leadership. They met with the ruling party African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa, Secretary-General Ace Magashule and other members of the NEC earlier this week.
Kenneth Mokgatlhe
k.mokgatlhe@politicalanalysis.co.za
