Thulamela Municipality’s refusal to grant Sanco in Malamulele permission to march against poor service delivery was met with anger and revulsion.

More than 500 people, who had assembled for the march, only to be told that there was to be no march, went home disappointed, but not without taking action.

Refusing be deterred, members of the community picketed and toyi toyied at the Menele Cross leading to Malamulele Town. They were later addressed by the Sanco leadership, who told them they (the leaders) were to meet the Thulamela Municipality's leadership, who had requested a meeting before permission for the march was to be granted.

Sanco secretary Hasani Mchavi said the municipality had given the impression they would grant them permission until the last minute, when they did not keep their word. “We had met officials, who said we would get permission before last Monday, and they later said we would get it before Friday,” he said. He said the municipality later made an about-turn and said they would not give permission.

“This attitude has made members of the community angry and we do not accept the refusal to let people march in a democracy,” said Mchavi. He said the area of Malamulele experienced poor service delivery.

Municipality spokesperson Ndwato Tshiila said the municipality had not refused the community permission to march, but first wanted to find out what they wanted and that they were to finalize arrangements of the march with the leaders.