A group of civil organisations and political parties have come together in a bid to topple the DA-led coalition government of the City of Tshwane which they accuse of among others preserving apartheid spatial planning and of massive corruption.
Hundreds marched on the metro on Wednesday where they submitted a memorandum demanding the acceleration of service delivery in black communities as well as the writing off of the municipal debts of indigents.
Leader of political party Xiluva Bongani Baloyi referred to the municipality’s offices as a crime scene claiming that DA leaders were milking the institution through inflated tenders given to their friends and allies.
“This is a crime scene, a place where billions have been stolen by the DA government and more is still to be looted if we don’t stop them,” said Baloyi.
Protest organiser Tshepo Mahlangu urged the protestors to register to vote and rally behind black organisations.
“I am often asked who I am going to vote for and I know you too are curious. I will give you an answer once you prove you have registered, I don’t talk to unregistered people. After registering we are going to remove the DA and put you there because we have to unite as Africans,” said Mhlongo who also explained that residents in various townships have joined the project he leads known as Tshwane Parliament.
The municipality has cited various reasons for its inability to deliver including none payment of services by the aggrieved residents as well as the three months strike by union SAMWU which brought service delivery to a standstill.
“We have to pay for what we use, there’s nothing for free. Even us as a city we buy the water from Randwater and electricity from Eskom,” said housing MMC Ofentse Madzivandlela who received the memorandum.
Madzivandlela said the city is yet to perform at optimal level following the crippling strike but insists it is making an effort.
“Whether it’s Tsamaya in Mamelodi or Atteridgeville, we are there in the townships doing our best to remove the refuse but remember it piled up as a result of the strike so while we try there’s more dumping being done,” he said.
Meanwhile the DA led coalition is yet to comment on Deputy Mayor Nasipha Moya’s admission that she took R10 000 pocket money from the city when she was meant to travel to Saudi Arabia but failed to return it when she opted out of the trip.
The EFF has called for her immediate removal.