Residents cry out: Tonga has been sanctioned!

RESIDENTS want the Nkomazi Local Municipality to develop their area.

On Monday, 27 January, residents of Tonga in Mpumalanga took to the streets in protest against a lack of services.

Roads leading to the area were blocked with burning objects and heaps of sand. Residents are calling for government to pay attention to their area.

Resident Sydwell Sambo, who was speaking on behalf of the community, told Daily Sun it's been years since the municipality neglected the community.

He said other areas in the municipality are developed.

"Tonga has been sanctioned. There's no service delivery in the area. We're worried because there's development in other areas and not here. The only thing we have here is a hospital and a primary school," he said.

Sydwell said the main concern is the issue of the road going to the hospital.

ALSO READ | Parties to protest against Ithala Bank's closure!Opens in new window

He said the road is in a terrible state of disrepair and that ambulances are the worst affected.

"The road has collapsed and people going to the hospital suffer. This has been happening for many years, and nothing has been done to fix it. We don't have a high school; there's no community hall and library. That's a concern."

Sydwell said some residents had raised the issues with the municipality before but to no avail. He said they want government officials to come and explain why the community is left behind.

Another resident, Sibonga Mthethwa, said they want to be treated like other villages.

He said: "This place has been like this for many years. Nothing much has changed. We're calling on the municipality to also consider us in their plans. We're sick and tired hence we took it to the streets today. We also want change in our community," he said.

Nkomazi municipal spokesman Cyril Ripinga could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing.