Addressing questions over the role played by Cogta in settling the unrest in municipalities, Duma told Members of the Provincial Legislature they have noted spiralling protests in the province and are attending to concerns raised by communities. He confirms during the meeting they will finalise some of the implementation plans to address the remaining demands placed before the provincial government. 

OFM News has reported that these include improving service delivery, job creation, sound management at the municipality, and the suspension of City Manager Tankiso Mea, which has since been implemented.

“We have just received reports about another protest action in Harrismith and in the main, the community there wants be dis-established [the municipal borders to be demarcated] under the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality”.

He says they have told this community that this is a long process that will need to be included in the demarcation processes and that the department is at this stage not in a position to determine whether it can be done or not. He says he spoke to the protest leaders and invited them to an engagement with Deputy President David Mabuza when he visited the municipality this past weekend.

Duma says challenges faced by Maluti-A-Phofung are receiving attention. Mabuza and the community have been told that. He says Mabuza has vowed to ensure that issues pertaining to water supply and Eskom are soon resolved.

He confirms the department will be heading to the Matjhabeng Municipality next week ahead of the planned protests.

OFM News