John Mpe, the executive mayor of Polokwane municipality in Limpopo, faced a barrage of complaints from opposition parties who accused his party, the ANC, of being aloof when called to address issues of chronic lack of services.
Ahead of the much-anticipated 2024 general elections, political parties in Limpopo gathered at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Arena in Seshego to make their last-minute election promises.
The election debate was attended by several provincial premier candidates from various political parties, except for the EFF, and a large audience.
The red berets were in Moletjie village, where party leader, Julius Malema and his high-ranking party officials met with traditional leaders.
Mpe is the regional leader of the Peter Mokaba region, the most powerful region in Limpopo. He presides over the wealthiest municipality in the province. This makes him one of the most influential politicians up north.
Under fire over residents’ concerns
However, in recent months, he has come under fire for ignoring residents’ concerns. The issues were linked to recent service delivery protests. These are shortage of water, an incorrect billing system, joblessness and load shedding.
At the event, the DA accused Mpe and the ANC-led government of “deliberate gross violation of residents’ constitutional right to basic services like water.”
DA provincial leader, Motlatjo Thetjeng said they have been warning the Polokwane council for over two decades about the impending water crisis.
“Since 2016, Mankweng residents were allowed to pay a flat rate for water and sewer services. This was regardless of how much water they consume. Not only was this unsustainable, impractical and unfair, but this arrangement came back to haunt Polokwane municipality. Frustrated residents of Seshego and other areas are now also demanding a flat rate for municipal services. We understand the frustration of residents with the protracted water crisis. The crisis which is caused by lack of progressive planning by the ANC-led Council. This cannot come at the cost of residents’ other constitutional rights” Thetjeng said.
Call for regime change
Azapo’s provincial leader, Pat Moyaha, said the myriad problems gripping Limpopo and South Africa have the same source. They are the result of a lack of leadership integrity and the quest for self-enrichment.
“It is so painful for us who fought for the liberation of this country. Only to see a criminal syndicate lining their pockets while the poor suffer. Our problems are far from over if we don’t push for a regime change.
“There is also the issue of violent crime that has spiralled out of control because we have an ineffective police service. Of grave concern is that there are many guns in this country. These dangerous weapons contribute largely to the high crime rate. This bureaucratic malfeasance could be solved if we overhaul the functionality of the state,” Moyaha noted.
The PAC’s Pitso Mphasha reiterated that agriculture is the backbone of any nation’s development programme. The success of the project can only be achieved if land reform is done accordingly.
He said: “The content of human existence is surrounded by agriculture. From subsistence to industrialisation, goods and services. Agriculture prevails as a cornerstone for accessories of life. It is for this reason that the PAC places agricultural economy at the centre of its national development agenda. In agriculture, the nation shall be fed. The nation shall be housed. In agriculture the nation shall be clothed.”
Bosa wants education first
Build One South Africa’s representative Ngwako Setjie said the party was placing education at the center of its manifesto.
“Without proper education and skills development, this country is going nowhere. The whole education needs total overhaul, from basic to tertiary. In the age of technology, the access to WiFi is necessary for research,” said Setjie.
