Picture: The protesters allegedly damaged the vehicle belonging to the municipal councillor, Itumeleng Maribe/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The irate protesters from Itireleng village, near Taung vow to resume their service delivery protest, if there is no action taken by the embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe. A week ago, protesters barricaded the N18 road that links Taung and Hartswater with burning tyres and debris demanding the construction of the 2.5km internal road.
One of the community leaders, Itumeleng Pholo said the community members threatened to resume their service delivery protest because they have not received any communication from the municipality thus far.
“We have given them ample time to come up with a solution to our demand. However, it seems they are taking us for a ride and now is the time for action. We only need answers regarding the R10 million construction road project that was budgeted for.
“Gaoraelwe told us that, there was a R10 million budget set aside for this project, but he continues to send us from pillar to post. So, as the community, we feel disrespected by the manner in which he is handling this matter,” he said.
Pholo also alleged that, there were allegations that there was a R6 million budget that was part of the budget, but it is missing.
However, the municipality’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure, Itumeleng Maribe said, they will visit the area on Tuesday at 2pm and meet with aggrieved residents.
Last week, Maribe’s vehicle was damaged during a protest.
“I was on duty travelling from Kgomotso village to Taung and utilising my private vehicle, which is a grey Toyota Legend when I came across protesters on N18 road next to Taung Hotel School.
“The police were dispersing protesters with rubber bullets and teargas when one of the protesters threw a large stone at my vehicle. This resulted in the stone damaging the rear passenger door,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Caucus Leader in Greater Taung Local Municipality, Sam Nape lambasted Gaoraelwe for the ‘delay tactics’ in addressing the residents. Nape said all this is happening because Gaoraelwe made empty promises to the residents back in 2022.
“He promised the residents that the municipality would construct an internal road connecting them to the N18. This is a typical ANC fashion as Gaoraelwe made politically expedient promises to residents knowing full well that, the municipality did not have the funding nor the capacity to build such a road.
“Neither does the road fall under the jurisdiction of the municipality. The road is a competency of the North West Provincial Government (NWPG). The DA would in principle support the construction of a road, but it must follow the correct process and procedures,” he said.
Nape further said, that when the matter appeared before the council, they raised concerns that this would be an unfunded project. He added that the municipality also has no jurisdiction to construct this road since it is a provincial road and that the cost of R10 million seemed excessive.
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