Fuming Hopetown residents in the Northern Cape blame power-hungry politicians for the collapse of service delivery in their area. They accuse the coalition government of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Siyathemba Community Movement, and Freedom Front Plus at Thembelihle Municipality of failing them.
Residents in Hopetown are still using the bucket toilets with piles of hazardous uncollected garbage forming part of their daily life. They say the coalition government has failed them.
Patrick Mpamba says their votes have not changed their lives.
“This time the EFF comes things are messy. The location is dirty. People don’t want to come. If you go to the council no one comes. This thing of EFF and ANC of Hopetown I don’t understand it.”
Residents, James Diba and Theo Bosman concur.
“They say the money of the shack was already out. Houses must be built. We are still sitting in the shacks.”
“We have lots of challenges. You see lots of dumps. It cost safety risks for young people. Since the EFF mayor, nothing happens here in Hopetown. He must pull up his socks or ANC will take over once and for all.”
The EFF Mayor at Thembelihle Municipality Leornard Makenna has blamed the ANC for the collapse of a number of council meetings. An accusation denied by the ANC.
Makenna says the coalition is strong.
“There are no issues with the coalition. The issue is the political party, the ANC, who have accepted that they were relegated by the coalition to the opposition benches. Currently, we are sitting with a court order whereby the speaker was reinstated by the court.”
The council is also dealing with a court battle involving Danny Jonas and his organisation, the Siyathemba Community Movement.
The organisation alleges that Jonas is no longer a member of the party and that he should be removed as a council speaker.
Hopetown residents blame coalition government for poor service delivery:
