An eyewitness who has asked to remain anonymous tells OFM News the situation is bordering on being dangerous as a result of the unrest. A video provided to OFM News displays litter strewn all over the town’s roads, as well as barricades in the form of bricks, burning tyres and tree stumps, making the town allegedly inaccessible.

The eyewitness says police are present and they did successfully manage to momentarily disperse the disgruntled crowd, using rubber bullets. It is reported municipal workers are unhappy with Tsantsabane’s alleged failure to keep to its commitments in the form of salaries to its employees. It is alleged several employees have received promotions, but are yet to see an increase in their salaries. The Tsantsabane Local Municipality is yet to comment on the allegations. The office was unreachable at the time of publication.

This isn’t the first time in the last few years that the municipality has been accused of failing to fulfil their legal obligations and commitments to employees. In May 2018, the Save Tsantsabane Coalition (STC) called for urgent intervention by the Northern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) for the same issue. The Northern Cape Police Communication Department is unavailable for an update on the situation.

OFM News