Marchers call for action on sewage, water and unpaid workers

Concerned Chris Hani District Residents, together with civic organisations, marched to the Chris Hani District Municipality on Wednesday to hand over a petition to the office of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zilile Williams.

Convener Xola Njokweni said the action targets 3 core issues: nepotism, water and sanitation failures, and unpaid outsourced security workers. “We want to deal with the issue of nepotism, we did not want to name the people involved. We know that families of senior leaders and politicians are involved,” Njokweni said. “This is not political, we want to discuss community issues.”

Njokweni told reporters sewage is overflowing into streets, rivers and graveyards across Chris Hani. “Throughout Chris Hani there is overflowing sewage in the streets polluting the rivers and graveyards. This is not just to do an exercise,” he said.

The group also challenged a water tariff increase of “more than 100%”, asking how it was justified before the new budget is approved. Their memorandum calls for a comprehensive district-wide water intervention and monthly public progress reports on water restoration. They also want the MEC to freeze the proposed water tariffs.

Another demand is an investigation into mismanagement of public funds linked to security services. Njokweni said some outsourced guards have not been paid since December and want all payments to service providers verified. “Mismanagement of public funds, security going for months without salaries,” he said.

He added the group does not represent any political party and submitted issues “as community guided by the constitution”. The march comes as the new financial year begins, which Njokweni said is why postponement was not an option. “In July if we don’t get answers we will close all six local municipalities under Chris Hani District Municipality.”

Njokweni said engagements have been ongoing since December last year. On 25 March they met the MEC’s office, which promised to engage Chris Hani District. A 7 May meeting with leadership produced a report, but Njokweni said it “was not a true reflection of the meeting” and “we did not see eye to eye”.

He also alleged sabotage by traffic officials and police. “We have been sabotaged by the traffics and the police. I did follow-up on the matter with the police and they informed us that they will get the information from public safety.”

Njokweni said municipal officials accompanied him on site visits to sewer problem areas but have not reported back since.

Speaker Jongumzi Cengani received the petition. He said some issues fall to other members and the mayor’s office would respond. “Ours is to take the petition and any member delighted by the mayor responds to that,” Cengani said. He noted council meetings have been virtual since COVID-19, but “we will start convening personal council meeting in our next financial year”.

The MEC’s office has not yet commented on the memorandum or the July deadline.