MIDDELBURG – A group of residents, identifying themselves as the Steve Tshwete Concerned Residents, marched to the Steve Tshwete municipality on Thursday, April 18, 2024. They handed over a memorandum detailing their demands, which include jobs, business opportunities, water, and electricity.
Led by former councillor Bheki Marumo, residents from Mhluzi, Doornkop, Hendrina, Arnot, and Komati voiced their desire for job opportunities and emphasised the importance of employing locals regardless of political affiliation.
“We see little change on job opportunities, programs to develop the youth. We demand transparency and if there are processes that need to be followed,” stated the memorandum. As graduates, we want to be included in a database so that we can be allocated jobs and be employable”.
Residents also highlighted the water crisis in the drought-affected Doornkop area. “Water is a problem that we demand it be solved immediately because we are paying full rent for half services. If water is taken away, we demand water tankers within 24 hours to assist us as it is withing our right,” they insisted.
The memorandum also addressed infrastructure needs, including tarred roads at Doornkop’s main entrances and electricity access. They called for a permanent clinic in Arnot and initiatives to address youth unemployment in Komati.
Additionally, they urged the municipality to support small-scale farmers by selling them portions of land. “And we need the municipality to consider small farmers and if possible, sell them small portions of farms, because as black society we were disadvantaged by the apartheid regime,” memorandum noted.
The residents expressed concerns about corruption within the local economic development department. “We appreciate the idea of boosting small businesses, and we hope the selection process will be transparent, however that doesn’t take away that the money for small business is stolen. And please arrest the corrupt officials.We hope that there won’t be other workers stealing our money by getting paid lots of salaries. We hope there will be action taken too about this criminality. This is our rates money.”The municipality was given a 14-day deadline to respond to these demands. Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela accepted the memorandum and assured the residents that the municipality would review it carefully and respond within the stipulated period.
