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Malamulele during the stay-at-home mass action.

Malamulele shutdown resumes

 

As the total shutdown enters its second week in Malamulele, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has called on the authorities both at provincial and national level to intervene as prescribed by the country's constitution.

Malamulele has been a scene of protests for some time, some of which were violent and led to the damaging of properties. The residents want their own municipality, separate from Thulamela.

Last week, residents embarked on a stay away which ended on Friday. At a meeting held on Sunday to asses the impact of the week-long stay away, residents decided to continue for another week with no movement in and out of Malamulele. This also meant that pupils did not go to school as the schooling calender entered its second week.

The protesters say they will not stop until Cooperative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan responds positively to their demands. If this does not happen, they will be marching to the Union Buildings.

The area has been characterised by blockades at all entry points to the township. Those trying to take their children to outside schools and those trying to go to work are turned back at entry and exit points.

In the light of the above, the DA in Limpopo has come up with a proposal that they hope will save the situation. Mr Jacques Smalle, the provincial leader, said they would write to Minister Gordhan and Coghsta Limpopo this week to advocate that the government review the situation and consider providing the Malamulele area with a regional office of the Thulamela Municipality.

According to the party, this will, in the meantime, ensure access to service delivery and stabilise the life-threatening and volatile situation that has since crippled business activities.

"The DA believes that a regional municipal office will bring about calm and stability in the area while the demarcation board is still reviewing the people’s request of a municipality. The DA’s concerns include mainly the disruption of schooling and economic activities. The DA will also advocate for a debate in the provincial legislature on the provision of a regional municipal office in the area before Limpopo is faced with yet another series of ugly service delivery unrest," said Smalle.

Smalle, who is a member of the education portfolio, also urged the community in Malamulele to release the children, so that they can continue with their normal schooling. "We cannot stand and allow the Malamulele area to go up in flames in this situation while our constitution has a provision towards a peaceful solution; hence we believe that political will could come in handy in resolving this problem," concluded Smalle.

 

Date:23 January 2015

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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