Mbizeni’s comments come after a wave of protests in the Barkly-West area, after residents complained that their electricity supply had been cut off as they were in arrears and they were expected to pay a R3500 connection fee. 

Mbizeni said that she did not understand why the residents were calling for her removal as she believes that she has not done anything wrong.

She further said that those among the population who owed Eskom money and whose power supplies were recently cut off owing to non-payment, were among the instigators of these calls for her to step down. She blamed opposition parties in the area, who she said were influencing members of the Barkley West community in these growing calls and protests.

“They want to force me to do things that I can’t because they don’t want to pay their (electricity) debt because of the electricity cuts. So now I don’t know for what reason must I resign but the organization, which is the ruling party, they will- not me,” Mbizeni said.

Calls for the resignation of Mbizeni, as well as the municipality’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to resign first emerged earlier this month, after residents complained about poor service delivery and a pending investigation into a number of unfinished projects in the area. 

Meanwhile, police in the Northern Cape have confirmed that there is calm regarding the protests by community members. 

Despite this, police are still monitoring the situation and are on high alert.  

OFM News