Lebowakgomo residents in the Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality outside of Polokwane attacked mayor Merriam Molala as a form of protest.
The mayor was supposed to speak to the community during the independent development programme (IDP) roadshow on Wednesday at the Lebowakgomo Civic Centre when this incident occurred.
The video clip, which has since gone viral, shows security guards saving Molala.
As the residents are baying for the mayor’s blood, one of the guards can be heard asking another to shoot them.
The guards were able to get Molala into their cars and drive quickly out of the civic centre.
Residents allegedly attacked Molala because they were unhappy with the municipality’s nepotism, poor service delivery, and poor administration.
One of the residents, Matema Ledwaba, a street vendor, accused the municipality of ruining her life after her shack, where she used to sell homemade food, was demolished without warning.
Poor service delivery
“I am a jobless mother of three who survives by selling food on those busy intersection roads in Lebowakgomo.
“I, together with my fellow street vendors, was taken aback when the municipality staff members arrived where we sell our stuff to make a living and started to demolish our structures,” said the frustrated Ledwaba.
She went on to say that she felt no sympathy for the mayor. Her business was located on the R579 and Zebediela Road in Lebowakgomo.
Another resident, William Mphahlele, said: “We have been enduring poor service delivery since the mayor took over five years ago.
“Look at Zone F Shopping Centre. The place that should be arguably our key point is not looked after, and it is stinking like sewage due to uncollected refuse bins that sit there for weeks without anyone collecting them.
“When we try to engage with the mayor over our problems, she gives us an attitude.”
Although the security fired shots at the community members, no fatalities were reported.
Criminal case opened
Lazzy Ledwaba, the municipality spokesperson, denounced the incident, calling it a plot by non-residents of Lepelle-Nkumpi who are members of the opposition Defenders of the People party, which is led by Topa Mphahlele.
“The residents of the Lebowakgomo cluster were able to raise their concerns and give inputs towards the IDP,” said Ledwaba.
“Furthermore, we challenge everyone to use proper channels, such as reporting lack of or poor service delivery through their councillors or the office of the municipal speaker, or they can go as far as reporting such through the Limpopo premier’s hotline.”
The municipality has opened a criminal case with the police, she said.
