Soshanguve march for service delivery photo by Dimakatso Modipa
Irate MK Party members submitted a memorandum of demands to the City of Tshwane Municipality Soshanguve offices regarding service delivery issues in Soshanguve on Friday.
According to MK Party Soshanguve convener Kabelo Dilebo, the protest march was sparked by lack of service delivery and the recent killing killing of community patrollers at the “Marry Me” informal settlement as well as criminal activities in general in and around Soshanguve.
“We are looking forward to getting electricity because lack of electricity is a serious problem in Soshanguve and potholes are all over the place and as MK Party together with residents of Soshanguve we are saying no to the City’s failure to deliver services and we demand service delivery now,” he said.
He said the march was a peaceful one but if they are compelled to come again to the Municipality offices then it won’t be nice, and that though they won’t be violent, they will march with more force and get other regions of MK Party to join them so that the Municipality can hear them better.
He said they have given the City of Tshwane seven days to adhere to their demands.
The protesting marchers were brought to the Soshanguve Municipality offices by buses and Quantum taxi vehicles.
Addressing the crowd before handing in the memorandum to the City of Tshwane MMC for road and transport Tlangi Mogale, MK Party chairperson Tshepo Letsiki said that the party won’t apologise for demanding service delivery and lambasted the ANC/EFF/ ActionSA administration that is in power in the Tshwane Municipality for abusing residents of Soshanguve.
“When one turns around the corner in Soshanguve one always sees a stand where Nyaope is sold, when one turns around the corner one always sees police officers collecting bribes, comrades we are in a revolution, fight or submit,” roared Letsika much to the appreciation of the crowd.
The memorandum was received and signed by MMC for Transport Tlangi Mogale on behalf of the City of Tshwane Municipality.
Their demands include the following:
1.Fixing of damages streetlights.
2. Removal of all illegal dumping sites.
3.Fixing of all spewing sewages.
4.Fixing of potholes.
5.Installation of temporary electricity at all informal settlements.
6. Hiring of permanent of cleaning and security staff at the local cemetery.
Be that as it may, Soshanguve Ward 26 Councillor Joseph Shumi said MK Party is trying to out itself in the spotlight as a party that cares for the people and the march was supposed to be organised by residents and not a political party.
“As a Councillor it is awkward to be told about service delivery issues by a political party and I must say that I always attend to challenges facing the community,” he said.
He revealed that he has been a Ward Councillor since 2021and one of the challenges he has faced comes from political parties.
He pointed out that there are lots of positive changes that have been brought about by the current ANC-led administration in the City of Tshwane as compared to the time when Randall Williams and Cilliers Brink were mayors because the two made it clear that there was no budget to serve black communities in Tshwane.
“Even though things are moving at a slow pace I must emphasize that changes are there regarding service delivery,” said Shumi.
“Since taking over the administration of Tshwane in October last year we have faced problems created by the DA because it refused to sign a memorandum of understanding whereby the Gauteng Provincial government would help municipalities which were struggling to serve their communities,” lamented Shumi.