The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns the violent service delivery protest taking place in Warrenton and is of the view that the ANC mayor and councillors, whose own inaction has led to this upheaval, must step aside.
As the protest action reached climax point last night, a truck was forced off the N12, into the house of an unemployed mother. The damage to her home has rendered her homeless.
The situation, which has been sparked by the inaction of ANC councillors, is out of control and requires people to be held accountable, not just for the criminal actions occurring amidst the protests, but also for political failures that have ultimately led to this crisis.
In essence, the unrest that has unfolded in Warrenton since Monday, has been caused by the failure of ANC councillors to note the infrastructural challenges within their respective communities and ensure that they are included in the Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP).
This means that community complaints are not being taken seriously and that councillors, who have been elected to improve the lives of the communities they serve, are ignoring these very communities. Even the Mayor rather chooses to stay in hiding instead of meeting with residents to discuss the IDP plans relating to each ward.
This is unacceptable.
The ANC-governed municipality has run Magareng into the ground. Now protests, have ground the town to a halt.
Enough is enough.
The ANC mayor and councillors who have brought this fate upon Warrenton must quit now. At the same time, voters must rethink who they will elect in future – some more ANC salary snatchers, or a DA local government that actually cares about the community.