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The message is clear: people have had enough of corruption.

“Adv Thuli is our last hope” - protestors

 

Civil society structures under the Vhembe Civil Society Network have spoken in one voice against corruption in the public and private sector taking place in the region.

During a march to highlight their plight, which started at the local Thohoyandou Town Hall and ended up at the Vhembe District Municipality’s offices, where they handed over a memorandum to the Vhembe mayor, the marchers made it clear they have had enough. They said the only person who could help them rid the country of the scourge was the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela.

They urged the government to respect her office and to make her findings and recommendations on issues of corruption binding. “We also urge the government to increase the budget for her office as it is dealing with a lot of work that needs more human resource power. We say again to the powers that be that public contempt for and vilification of the public protector must be subject to criminal prosecution,” said Ms Nkhumiseni Tshivhase, the leader of the many organizations that took part in the march.

The more than 1000 marches, who sang freedom songs and waved placards with anti-corruption messages, said the district was a disgrace and was one of the leading areas in terms of corruption. The marchers deliberately included the general population as being part of the corruption challenge and two of the banners read “pay the FINE, not the COP” and “grants are for children, not hairstyles.”

Tshivhase said corruption had done more harm than good "in a society where the health care and education have deteriorated to almost nothing, while the money is being stolen by greedy officials. Many are living in shacks, whereas the money to build them RDP houses goes to the pockets of individuals," she added.

She further indicated that the physical security of the community was also at risk, because of the corruption taking place because of the police service that is riddled with corruption. “The people of Vhembe are paying the price and we will no longer tolerate impunity enjoyed by the powerful few. We are now serving notice that we are watching you, representing as we do the hopes and wishes of ordinary people living in this country. We will expect a positive and urgent response to these demands and a sign that you have heard the loud and resounding voices of the people,” she said.

Receiving the memorandum, Vhembe Executive Mayor Cllr Tshitereke Matibe said they would look into the memorandum and if some of the demands were beyond their competence, they would hand over the memorandum to the relevant authorities.

News - Date: 09 October 2015

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Vhembe Executive Mayor Cllr Tshitereke Matibe shakes hands with the marchers' leader, Ms Nkhumiseni Tshivhase, after receiving the memorandum.

 

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Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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