RISE Mzansi party members felt undermined, disrespected, and a high level of arrogance from the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality in the Free State on Tuesday, 6 January.
The municipality's top officials didn't bother to attend to the Rise Mzansi protesters who were waiting to submit their memorandum of grievances for hours outside the municipal headquarters in Phuthaditjhaba.
The memorandum was about the long overdue water crises and constant power outages.
Rise Mzansi provincial convener Nomsa Marchesi said they have followed the necessary processes to embark on a service delivery peaceful march to the municipal offices in an attempt to force the municipality to provide water and electricity to the residents.
"This government doesn't respect the people. They have a lot of arrogance. We came here to submit our memorandum on behalf of the community. The acting municipal manager and officials don't care about the people. Therefore, they don't care about the dignity of the people of this municipality.
ALSO READ | Stepson 'kills' taxi owner and family
"Regardless of processes being followed or not, this is a public space. They allowed less than 300 people to march. The ANC government is arrogant. We have submitted our memorandum to a security guard without being sent by top officials," she said.
A security guard who described himself as only Mofokeng received the memorandum and didn't promise any response.
Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality has allegedly been failing to provide water and electricity for more than a decade now.
The municipality allegedly owes Eskom R7 billion, and many villages have been without water and power for years now.
Municipal speaker Mandlenkosi Dlamini said: "I have noticed people picketing outside our offices. The picketing and marching are two different things. We were in our offices and didn't know about the march. We are not arrogant."
Do you think the municipality officials are arrogant? We would like to hear from you. Comment below.
