The IFP believes that protests in different parts of the country as seen in Malamulele, Majakaneng near Brits and Mohlakeng are as a result of the growing dissatisfaction among people about the failure of government to deliver services.
“These protests are an indication of government’s failure to deliver basic services to the people. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. When the ruling party took over in 1994, it made all sorts of promises but it has dismally failed to fulfil a lot of them. The ANC’s slogan of “A better life for all” is not a new slogan. It was conceptualised by a public relations adviser to the ANC, Stan Greenberg, in 1994. The slogan, the dream, has empty meaning as it has turned out to be “a better life for a few,” said IFP National Chairperson, Mr Blessed Gwala.
“When people are just singing, they don’t get a response from the municipal officials. That is why people end up burning tyres and blocking cars from passing. Once they cause chaos, officials are quick to come and listen to their grievances. The lack of service delivery in most municipalities is a big issue and proper investigations need to be conducted,” concluded Mr Gwala.
The IFP believes that the high level of corruption in local government can be drastically reduced by deploying people with good track records as councillors and municipal officials. Furthermore, government’s response in addressing service delivery protests is a smoke and mirrors approach to appease residents, with the suggestion that it is acting, but then it fails to address the root causes of service delivery failure.
Issued by:
Mr Blessed Gwala, IFP National Chairman, 078 290 5842
Media Enquiries:
Mr Phendulani Biyase, IFP Media Officer, 073 024 5675