Kingdom Mabuza

Kingdom Mabuza

The community of Khutsong grudgingly embraced ANC leaders who came to address a rally to mobilise for votes at the local stadium yesterday.

Residents are still bitter that months after Provincial and Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka promised to assemble a committee that would look into, among other things, the release of youngsters who were detained during riots and the reinstatement of their hero Jomo Mogale, work had not started.

Outside the dilapidated stadium where the rally was held, youngsters protested the continued detention of their peers. They burnt tyres on the road.

Mogale was fired from his post at the local high school in August last year for his involvement in the struggle to force the government to reincorporate Khutsong into Gauteng.

He is still unemployed and more than five youngsters are still in jail facing charges ranging from arson, public violence to intimidation.

Mogale told Sowetan yesterday that he had not heard about progress made by the committee.

"I want my job back. I was fired because of my involvement in the community struggle resisting the undemocratic decision to force us into North West," Mogale said.

Shiceka's spokesman Vuyelwa Qinga-Vika said: "The committee, consisting of all stakeholders, including members of the community, will decide on issues to be addressed to restore stability in the area."

Gauteng premier and ANC provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile apologised to the community for the party's undemocratic decision.

"We are sorry, we made a mistake. Welcome back to Gauteng," Mashatile said.

He urged the residents to vote for the ANC, saying it was the only party that understood the challenges of service delivery.