MTHATHA – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has outlined a range of proposed changes for King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, including 24-hour clinics, a municipal job audit, bursaries and greater relief for indigent residents.

The party unveiled its manifesto at Rotary Stadium in Mthatha, with its KSD mayoral candidate, Ncedo Kolanisi, saying the manifesto was aimed at addressing challenges including fraud, corruption, maladministration and access to basic services.

Kolanisi outlined the issues faced by Mthatha residents, including relief for indigent people with regard to rates, electricity and other services.

Job audit among EFF’s first priorities

“It states that every woman must have access to free sanitary towels. It also states that we have a duty to open 24-hour clinics in all wards and villages because sickness comes at any time and to strengthen law enforcement,” he said.

“Basically, what was set out in our manifesto is what we are going to change. The first order of business is the so-called job audit, to ensure that we have the right people in the right place doing the right thing in the municipality.”

He added that the EFF also wants to establish a bursary that caters for young people who are residents of the municipality, so that every learner can access education.

Party raises concerns over workers

Kolanisi said the party had also visited some hardware stores in Mthatha after receiving numerous complaints about how employees at the stores were allegedly being treated.

“These employees are paid in cash, and their wages are less than what they should be receiving as per the Department of Employment and Labour. For instance, the highest-paid employee at the first store we visited earns R2,800 per month, while the minimum wage is supposed to be R3,500,” he said.

“It shows that they are not paid overtime and are not supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE). They use their own money to buy it. They do not have lunch breaks; they eat while busy doing their jobs. What is worse is that even the person operating the hoist is not qualified to operate it.”

New app to give residents reporting platform

Kolanisi adde that a lot of criminality was taking place and that the hardware store was able to produce a certificate showing that it was compliant.

“Even the one they gave us, when we scanned it, nothing showed up, which means it has been forged. They have to become compliant within a short space of time. We want them to ensure that their employees have contracts.”

Kolanisi said the EFF was also launching an app at 18:00 on Wednesday, 23 September called EFF King Sabata Dalindyebo Thetha Mhlali, a new digital service-delivery platform for the people of King Sabata Dalindyebo.

According to him, the platform will allow community members to report issues requiring attention so that they can receive a quick response.

The link to report an issue is: https://effksd.org.za/

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