Community shutdown protest organised by the South African Civic National Organisation (SANCO) Victor Khanye Local Municipality Zonal structure failed before it could commence.
The community shutdown march that was meant to bring grievances suffered by the community of Delmas to the attention of the VKLM on 30 March was organised by the Chairperson and Convener of the SancoVKLM Zonal Jacob Nhlanhla Mononyane and his council.
The protest was brought to standstill for not meeting a number of standards of a legal protest. Firstly the mayor of Victor Khanye Local Municipality Cllr Vusi Buda rejected the protest saying it was not meant to serve the general or least the majority needs of the community as it was stated in the official shutdown statement an furthermore Cllr Buda said that it is only a few people who have indicated interest in the protest from the community. However Highveld Chronicle received a signed petition with similar grievances on 25 February with at least 30 signatures allegedly by Delmas community members with a signature acknowledging the petition which looks like Cllr Buda’s.
Furthermore the Mpumalanga provincial Secretary Thabo Motau sent a statement to Highveld Chronicle stating that the provincial leadership of SANCO has received numerous concerns from Delmas affected stakeholders, “As such we have reiterated the position of SANCO supporting the genuine concerns of community; however the approach is deliberately wrong and puts the name of the organisation in disrepute”.
The statement goes on to state that the shutdown is not supported and that SANCO cannot be a part of the putting jobs, schools, businesses and other essential services at risk or on hold.
13 grievances stated in the shutdown statement include:
- the filling of potholes, reconstruction of roads, storm water and drainage system [these do not need any validation as they are obvious facts in VKLM], however Cllr Buda said that the organisers of the protest are not following the programme of the government on how these should be executed and cannot therefore be taken seriously.
- Demand for a detailed plan on a solution on water for Botleng Extension 5, 6, 7 and rural communities around the Greater Delmas, amongst 13 others.
Nonetheless VKLM released a statement responding to the shutdown in subject stating that it does not support the call for shutdown as “the issues raised by the memorandum were not responded to.” In addition a number of individuals involved in the protest were blocked to make it to the town council by a brigade of what seemed like bodyguards on the day of the march in Botleng Township, others were allegedly assaulted. VKLM Mayor Cllr Buda was not available to comment on who this brigade are that assaulted the citizens in the protest.
