ADVERTISEMENT:

 

Cattle took over the town on Friday as there was a total stay-away.

“We want nothing less than our own municipality”

 

Malamulele resembled a ghost town, with everything coming to a standstill for the day. The community on Friday embarked on a complete shutdown, with schools, businesses, taxi rank and offices closed in the area spanning more than 100 settlements

The shutdown was as a result of promises made by political leaders just before the elections for a speedy resolution to the municipal issue at Malamulele. Members of the Malamulele community want to break away from the Thulamela municipality and have their own municipality.

The shutdown was decided upon when the community felt that the ANC and the government had reneged on their decision to conclude the matter by July 31. They said that Pres Jacob Zuma has said, on visiting the area in April, that he was committed to seeing the matter concluded “as soon as possible.” Prior to the national elections, ANC leaders Ruth Bhengu, Billy Masetla and Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele spent a long time in Malamulele, talking to ANC structures to persuade them and the community to vote. During that time, it was mentioned that Premier Stan Mathabatha and SACP deputy secretary general Solly Maphaila had also indicated that they believed the Malamulele community’s demands were reasonable.

Unlike previous stay-aways that left the town a mess, the town was deserted. The situation was calm, with only a handful of people and police placed at strategic points around the town. On Sunday, the community held a meeting at the local boxing gym and it was decided to suspend the stay-away.

However, the Malamulele Demarcation Task Team said that the community would not back down until they were given their own municipality. Task team secretary Dr Jan Nkuna said the community had suspended the stay-away "in order to give negotiations a chance. We are are to meet Min Pravin Gordan in Pretoria. We want nothing less than what our people demand. We are not representing ourselves but the community, who want their own municipality. We expect the government to give us the municipality,” he said.

The Malamulele police spokesperson commended the community for a peaceful meeting and stay-away.

News - Date: 08 August 2014

Recent Articles

Search for a story:

 
 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

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.

Email:

ADVERTISEMENT: