Not much progress has been made to better service delivery issues plaguing Sinethemba Township in Mpumalanga, the SACP said on Saturday.
“The message is that very little, if any, progress has been made,” SA Communist Party (SACP) deputy general secretary, Jeremy Cronin told Sapa.
He was speaking after the SACP red forum meeting was held at Thusong Centre Hall in Sinethemba.
The reason for SACP's visit to Sinethemba Township was to see if progress was being made, he said.
A range of issues including road conditions, the clinic's capabilities, RDP house waiting lists, water quality, and municipal competency still remain problematic.
The meeting came as a result of violent riots that engulfed the area earlier this year due to claims of bad service delivery.
President Jacob Zuma made his second visit to the troubled Mpumalanga town on May 22. He assured residents that he consulted with ministers and local government on service delivery issues after his first visit.
“We must not be agitated. We must leave the matter to government. Some of the issues are being resolved,” Zuma said to residents.
The red forum meeting on Saturday was attended by SACP local branches, district and local provincial SACP, 1/8the 3/8 South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) branch and local Cosatu representatives.
Cronin said it was “a very constructive meeting...however the ANC's presence would have been valued...”.
The SACP after meeting with community members decided to address relevant ministers in various departments. This would help find solutions in areas of poor service delivery, Cronin said.
SACP representatives would also speak to MEC's in Mpumalanga to address these issues.
Cronin emphasised that the community should remain organised and engage with local council, local structures and to be whistleblowers if necessary.
“They need to remain active,” he said. - Sapa