We No Longer Trust the Leadership”: Komani March Explained

Scores of Komani residents marched around Komani town demanding the removal of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality executive mayor Madoda Papiyana on Friday (06/02).

The residents started gathering at 6am on Friday before marching to town.

After they were notified by the police that they did not have the permission to march, they gathered at the Chris Hani Hexagon where they were addressed by their leaders, before marching through parts of the town.

Although there had been earlier discussion about a possible shutdown, the organisers said the shutdown did not materialise and the action has proceeded as a march.

One of the leaders of the Claim Back Komani movement Bonke Mfenqe explained told Komani News that they only learnt later that they were supposed to have a permit to march and had to apply for it.

According to Mfenqe, the march aims is to submit demands to both the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality and the Chris Hani District Municipality.

“Protesters are concerned about the installation of electricity and water meters in households, which they believe undermines the authority and voice of residents,” Mfenqe said.

He said no water metres will be installed in their areas and they have taken notice of the electricity metres which constantly have problems.

He said the installation of both these metres were introduced without adequate consultation and have contributed to growing dissatisfaction within the community.

Mfenqe also raised concerns about the conduct of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality executive mayor Papiyana during a protest last month.

“The mayor has disrespected the community of Komani when it marched to his office and that has angered the community. Now the community is calling for him to vacate office.

“Today we said let us come here and demonstrate rather than stopping the people from coming here. We decided to allow people to come so that we can explain to them why the shutdown has been called off,” he said.

He said they were informed late on Thursday that they need to have an application to march and have since applied for that.

“We are planning to have a march where we will be calling for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa to come and take the petition.

“We don’t have confidence in the leadership of the province and we want Hlabisa to personally come and take the petition. Failing which, we will be forced to bring the town to a total shutdown,” he said.

Mfenqe said they will have a community meeting on Sunday which will discuss their way forward.

“We will do the needed paperwork and apply for permission before our next move next week. We will also engage with other stakeholders like the business sector, taxi industry and the schools before the shutdown,” he said.

As marchers were moving around town, some of the police members were escorting them while a police Nyala remained at the town centre monitoring the situation.