Rise Mzansi took to the streets and marched to the Maluti-A-Phofung (MAP) Municipality in Qwaqwa, Free State province on Tuesday, 6 February, to demand that the municipality provide uninterrupted basic services to communities.
Residents in the municipality have alleged that they have been without water for seven days, an occurrence that is frequent in the municipality; coupled with that, the residents had no electricity as well.
The Free State Convenor Nomsa Marchesi and the National Collective Leadership (NCL) Faeeza Lok led the Rise Mzansi march to the municipality to deliver their memorandum of demand, however, the party was met with stern arrogance, the gates were closed and the security refused them entry and no official was available to receive the memo; the security gentleman, who identified himself as Mofokeng said he is the Head of Security at the municipality and demanded that the memo be given to him as representative of the municipality and he will pass it on to the relevant officials.
Rise Mzansi also demanded that the roads be fixed and jobs be created, especially for the youth to combat the high rate of unemployment in the municipality.
After much debate, Marchesi read the memo and handed it to Mofokeng. The memo demands that Maluti-A-Phofung should:
- Provide at least 6000 litres of water per household.
- Provide a flow rate of not less than 10 litres per minute within 200 meters of a strand.
- Cannot allow any consumer to be without water for more than 7 days per year.
Provide a toilet or ventilated pit latrine, which is safe, reliable, environmentally sound, easy to clean, provides privacy and protection against the weather, well ventilated, keeps smells to a minimum and prevents the entry of flies and other disease carrying pets
“We believe that the crisis faced in Maluti-A- Pofung is by lack of leadership, lack of vision, Planning and proper implantation. South Africa needs better leaders, and it is our recommendation that the MM must make a plea to the provincial department of GOGTA to step in effectively, and assist with the operation of this municipality so that after the provincial and national elections of this year the new government can strengthen the process at hand by GOGTA with capable, ethical leaders,” said Marchesi.
Nomsa Marchesi said should they not respond within a month, she will consult with the national leadership on a way forward.
The Spokesperson for Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality Thabo Kessah told The Business Weekly that, the officials were not available because Rise Mzansi did not go through the legal processes of organizing a march; hence there was no one to receive the memo.
“In short, they did not inform anyone that they would be coming,” said Khessah.
Kessah said plans are underway to fix the roads as the Provincial Government launched the R237 million primary roads project in Maluti-A-Phofung. The launch was led by Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana and MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, MEC MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae and MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Saki Mokoena.
The leaders handed over eight primary roads to be repaired including:
Setsing to Monotsa Border, which will create 268 jobs opportunities; Matebeleng to Makgaloaneng, which will create 112 job opportunities; Bolata to Elizabeth Ross, it will create 87 job opportunities; Tiboloha to Maluti Bus service, including Tseki toBolata and will create 300 job opportunities.
Riverside to Namahadi, it will create 118 jobs, Makong Village with 21 job opportunites and Lusaka to Qholaqhwe with 87 job opportunities.
Thabo Khessah said MAP Water will be in a good position to answer on the issues of water. The Business Weekly is yet to receive a response from MAP Water.