CRADOCK Residents Front, representing various community organisations in the town, including political parties and trade unions, have once again expressed their dissatisfaction with actions within council’s board room.
“Last Monday’s march on the municipal offices has not been the last,” said Siphosomzi Ndwalaza, spokesperson of Cradock Residents Front.
“We aim to set matters right in town and are working towards having all Cradock residents involved in our actions.”
According to a memorandum of demands, handed to the municipality last Monday, the front urgently wants certain councillors to step down, as they consider them to be the cause of all that is wrong in the municipality. This includes council’s ‘obsession’ to renew the contracts of certain employees.
“Members of council also failed to table a report of the suspension of services of these employees whose contracts have expired, as per a previous council resolution.
“Cradock Residents Front wants the employment of these gentlemen to be terminated because of certain matters against them for which charges have been laid, yet the council proceeded to re-employ them,” Ndwalaza explained.
One of the demands of Cradock Residents Front is that letters of suspension of the two be presented at the next council meeting.
They are also demanding an end to threats to progressive councillors and the speaker who have embarked on a campaign to rid the municipality of corruption, while some of their other demands include efficient service delivery in all wards, that water supply be returned to the local municipality and an end to the corruptive practices of giving tenders to friends.
The front also demanded the immediate dismissal of parolees who have been employed as security guards by the municipality.
“We are concerned about this practice of employing former convicts when there are hundreds of bona fide unemployed young people who are certified security officers,” Ndwalaza said.
Executive Mayor, Noncebo Zonke, denied that she received any petition last Monday, or any other day for that matter.
Letters from Cradock Residents Front to business owners and government departments were sent out on Monday, February 28, inviting business owners and workers to join in a march that took place yesterday, and to support the shutdown from 11:00 to 13:00 at the municipal buildings.
According to Vicky Knoetze, MPL shadow MEC for COGTA, the Democratic Alliance will remain robust in it’s role as the official opposition in IYM and “expose any irregularities in this rogue municipality and hold all those who are responsible, to account”.
A representative of COGTA was expected to attend yesterday’s march to the municipal buildings.
