Lotus Atteridgeville Saulsville Civics Association (LASCA)is angry that the City of Tshwane has apparently reneged from its promise to call a meeting to resolve issues raised by the residents of Tshwane.
“We woke up receiving pamphlets from the City of Tshwane Municipality inviting residents to go and make payment arrangements even though they (Municipality) know very well that there are outstanding, contentious issues like estimated billing crisis, service delivery and late estates properties which still need to be sorted out between residents of Tshwane and the Municipality” said LASCA President Tshepo Mahlangu in a statement submitted to Tshwane Talks on Monday.
“During a Mayoral Imbizo held at the Mbolekwa Hall in Atteridgeville a few weeks ago, the Municipality made a commitment to engage with community leaders in a meeting in consistence with Section 152.1(e) at Tshwane House, to discuss the aforesaid burning issues,” he said.
“We really feel that the City of Tshwane Municipality is showing us the middle finger as community leaders, but we won’t be intimidated, we won’t be bullied by civil servants but for the City to undermine and provoke us like this is disgusting to say the least,” fumed Mahlangu.
He said the residents of Tshwane are furious about the latest City of Tshwane Municipality actions and as community leaders they are vindicated that politicians are playing games with the voters.
He added that residents will defy the Municipality until their demands were met and shut down the City of Tshwane if needs be.
“It was widely believed in the recent past that the previous City of Tshwane administration was arrogant, but the actions of the current administration prove otherwise,” said Mahlangu.
“Come the 2026 Local Government Elections, this arrogance and provocative measures will be a thing of the past and what is sad now is that the conflict is a black-on-black affair,” lamented Mahlangu.
“I maintain that the people shall govern and that there should be nothing for us without us,” he said.
In response to Mahlangu’s accusations, Deputy Mayor of the City of Tshwane Eugene Modise, who also serves as MMC for Finance, said:
“We are responding to the request from residents who need the City to assist them with their bills and the City is not undermining anyone in this regard.”
He added that ” the obsession of (LASCA President) Tshepo Mahlangu to incite the public to be at loggerheads with the Municipal government is not acceptable and should be condemned.”
According to Modise, the City of Tshwane officials were conducting their fiduciary duties.
“The attitude of Tshepo Mahlangu is unfortunate and misleading to the poor residents who need the attention of the City of Tshwane Municipality.