Cape Town - The community of Malamulele said on Thursday evening they were disappointed in President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address as he had failed to properly address their concerns.
The area of Malamulele in Limpopo has been engulfed by violent protests as residents demanded that government establish its own municipality and separate it from the Thulamela municipality, under which it is governed.
In his speech, Zuma said spoke against violent protests, saying everybody had the right to protest, but that this had to be done peacefully.
“We are a democratic state and recognise the community's right to protest. We however appeal that these protests should be within the ambit of the law and must be peaceful as stated in the Constitution,” said Zuma.
Community spokesman Noel Manganye said they were disturbed that Zuma did not properly address the problems faced by its community and others who had similar challenges of service delivery.
“He promised to come back here but he didn’t and we see that he did not address our issues and similar issues faced by other communities. We are however hopeful that he the intervention by the MEC and Minister Pravin Gordhan will result in our issues being addressed,” said Manganye.
Some schools and municipalities were set alight during the violent protests in the area as residents demanded better service delivery and that their own municipality.
More than 75 000 learners have not attended school in the area this year due to a total shutdown on the area as protests over the issue have raged.
The Municipal Dermacation Board has said that a single municipality for the Malamulele would not be viable.
The DA this week called on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan to place the Thulamela municipality under administration.
Gordhan has visited the area twice over the last week, and held meetings with the stakeholders involved.
According to Gordhan, the community still had an opportunity had an opportunity to apply for its own municipality through government processes that will unfold.
This week, the Limpopo education department said they were hoping Gordhan’s intervention would resolve the issue of learners not being able to attend classes.
Independent Media