“Put an end to poverty and deprivation”

Service delivery issues have become burning issues in most communities. Some communities lack the most basic of the services, such as water and access roads. The community of Maniini Block L is no exception.

The community says it has been neglected for the past 20 years as if the new dispensation never happened. A fortnight ago, hundreds of residents took to the streets and marched for some kilometres  to the Thulamela municipal offices to deliver a memorandum of their demands.

The leader of the Bock L Civic Association, Mr Michael Rasikhinya, said that the community's expectations had been dashed and actual promises made had also not been fulfilled. “The expectations of the people are very modest. We expected for freedom, not to live a life of luxury, but merely for an end to poverty and deprivation that had been our lot under the previous dispensation."

He said that after 20 years their dreams had been shattered by the government and that the situation was worsening.

Among the demands by the community are that the community get free basic water for the poor, a clinic, a proper sewerage system, a primary school and a library, that the issue of stands be solved, housing, sanitation and bridges "which have been ignored for almost a decade", the provision of water to all areas at all times, street lighting, the tarring of roads and provision of access roads to all zones.

Rasikhinya added that the area was a crime haven and that there was a need for a satellite police station.

The municipality was given 30 days to respond, failling which the community will embark on rolling mass action that will incoporate actions by organized by workers, taxi associations, youths, students and women's organizations.

Date:18 June 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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