Disgruntled MK Party supporters and Pietermaritzburg residents who braved scorching heat to march to premier Thami Ntuli's office have given the premier five days to resolve grievances related to power supply.
Resident Mbali Dumakude, 39, from the France township, said their electricity supply had forced them to procure their own transformers in January.
“We got someone to install our own transformer. But a few months down the line, the transformers were removed,” said Dumakude.
She said they had been left in limbo after their lights were turned off.
She said the whole area had endured weeks of no power after Eskom disconnected them on July 15. She said the power utility was now demanding that they fork out R3,000 or more than 75% of the funds for new meters.
“The biggest problem is that we live in RDP houses and most of the people are battling with unemployment,” said Dumakude.
Two other affected people, Nicolette Potgieter, 44, and Shersing Singh, 50, told a similar tale, though unlike Dumakude they are supplied by the troubled Msunduzi municipality.
“It's frustrating because some of the residents are living with disabilities. Financially it’s frustrating because we have to buy gas. Children are bathing using cold water,” said Potgieter.
The premier's office became a hive of activity as social workers joined disgruntled community workers and MK Party supporters.
Ncinci Matinisa, 45, said the department had employed the last group of social workers in 2013 and subsequent to that the department of social development had advertised short-term contractual posts, which normally run for three months. In those positions they are only paid R6,000.
Their sit-ins started as far back as March when they tried to get the attention of then premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
She said earlier this month they met with Ntuli and members of his executive council, a move which renewed their optimism about finding employment.
“It was promising because we also identified two representatives who will sit in a follow-up meeting with premier, but we are not going to take their word for it because we were not given any time frames or dates,” said Matinisa.
She said social development Mbali Shinga had made mention about the youth employment drive which would soon be on cards. However, this did not sit well with Matinisa, who said most of the unemployed social workers were also outside the youth threshold.
Having completed her degree in 2017, Matinisa said the group consisted of graduates from different districts in the province.
Matinisa's anguish was etched on her face. “We have lost some of our friends and schoolmates who could not bear the challenges that come with unemployment,” she said.
The premier had been emphatic in saying that provincial government was without funds, she said, adding: “How can they say that for 10 years?”
What kind of government allows people to be without power, water and leaves teachers and social workers not being employed?
— Reggie Ngcobo, MK Party Moses Mabhida region convener
Among the grievances aired by the community was the restoration of transformers which were removed. Community leader Mzwandile Goge said: “The lack of transformers has a negative affect on the community, including the elderly and school-going children.
“We call for transformers to be upgraded to be in line with the increase in community members and informal settlements.”
The billing system of the Msunduzi municipality also came in for criticism, with the residents calling for it to be revised.
Goge said residents are unable to afford the tariffs, which has led to rampant tampering. He said they had also noted a spike in theft and housebreakings due to the sporadic power cuts. This crisis has also led to community members not being able to store some much-needed medication.
The Moses Mabhida region convener, Reggie Ngcobo, issued a stern warning to Ntuli.
“We are really demanding this meeting come 9am on Friday, or else we will let the community do as they wish. What kind of government allows people to be without power, water and leaves teachers and social workers not being employed?” said Ngcobo.
He said the situation in which the country finds itself was a clear indication that his party should ascend to power.
Ngcobo said the communities were being misled by the government, which bombarded them with unemployment statistics but expected communities to part with their money.
“How exactly can these people expect us to pay for these services? Elderly people are made to live on an elderly social grant of R2,000. We don’t have time to play, and we are going to tell our people to embark on a strategic revolution,” Ngcobo said.
The memorandum was received by CFO Nhlanhla Hlengwa, who promised the small crowd that the memorandum would reach Ntuli's hands.
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