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Mayhem resulted on the R579 Road linking Jane Furse and Lebowakgomo on Tuesday morning as angry residents of Ga-Phaahla blockaded the stretch during a protest over the no implementation of the much-needed Ga-Phaahla-Mamatjekele to Masehlaneng Access Road project.
Learners and workers experienced difficulty with mobility to their various destinations since 4:00 that morning when the demonstrations started.
South African Police Service (SAPS) Public Order Policing team had to be dispatched from Groblersdal to monitor the chaos.
The residents said Mayor Merah Mahlase’s failure to honour meetings that they requested with her to get answers on why the project has not been implanted to date added to their frustrations and anger.
According to them, they recently requested a meeting with the mayor, which she also failed to honour, last week.
“It was during that meeting that the community decided to take to the streets in protest against the mayor’s actions not to honour meetings about the project which they hoped would have started construction already,” explained Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla, local traditional authority leader.
Phaahla indicated that the residents were livid and wanted to get clarity on the project as designers were sent to area last year, raising their hopes that the project would soon start.
“They were shocked to discover during the draft IDP and Budget consultations that the project does not feature. This is the reason they want the mayor to come and meet them to explain what the situation is about the project,” said Phaahla.
Mahlase showed up during the protest but the residents were not satisfied about what she was relating to them.
Phaahla said they managed to communicate with Limpopo MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Ernest Rachoene, who promised to avail Road Agency Limpopo CEO for a meeting with the community on the matter on Wednesday, 21 May.
Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality would not be drawn into comment on the matter, indicating that it would only be in a position to do so after a report from the meeting has been received.
