Rehoboth residents threaten faeces attackAbout 100 Rehoboth residents took to the streets yesterday morning to protest alleged poor service delivery and corruption in the Rehoboth town council.
The protest was organised by Lukas de Klerk of the DTA’s Rehoboth branch. Also present were DTA secretary-general Manuel Ngaringombe and national chairperson Jennifer van den Heever.
Speaking during the handing over of a petition to Rehoboth Mayor Christina Blaauw, De Klerk said basic services such as water are a human right.
“Not paying the water bill and purchasing a new Fortuner (bakkie) worth N$700 000 are not acceptable. Instead of paying their bills, the council members splash the cash on luxuries,” he fumed.
De Klerk was referring to the disconnection of the town’s water supply two weeks ago.
He said the minister of urban and rural development should investigate the council’s financial and administrative affairs.
The DTA gave the council 14 days to respond to the petition.
“If they decide not to implement what is in the petition then we will bring buckets of human waste and throw it in their offices. I therefore appeal to the minister to respond to this petition in writing within 14 working days; no later than 26 September,” De Klerk said.
Ngaringombe said the protest was not politically motivated.
“We are only sympathising with them [residents] to fight for their basic rights such as water and electricity,” he said.
Ngaringombe said the town council’s books should be transparent. He questioned where the council got the N$6.3 million that it paid NamWater to reconnect the town’s water.
One of the petitioners, Alfred Bock, said their grievances are not only about water, but also the laxity of the council’s administrators.
“All of them in their luxury offices should be removed and competent people be appointed to serve the residents of Rehoboth. We are tired of lies,” said Bock.
After receiving the petition, Mayor Blaauw said protests and marches are not the only platforms to address issues and urged residents to make use of monthly council meetings to raise concerns.
“The council is aware of issues raised in the petition, thus a proper platform should be used to raise these types of issues. The petition will be submitted to the council in terms of the governing act. The resolutions taken from the petition will be revealed to the community,” she said.
Asked where the N$6.3 million came from to reconnect the water supply and the N$700 000 for the mayor’s car, municipal spokesman Jeffrey Kasupi said the council has different types of accounts to get money from.
“The investment accounts, call accounts and recurring accounts can be used to source funds and pay bills. The car was bought on hire purchase, so the allegations are devoid of any truth,” Kasupi said.
NAMPA