POLICE maintained a heavy presence at Hammersdale's Georgedale area in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday as thousands of residents voiced their opposition to the list of candidates who have been nominated to stand as ward councillors.
The area is an ANC stronghold and home to about 13000 residents. The residents claim the nominated candidates for the positions of ward councillors were elected "undemocratically".
Although the local ANC leadership said the candidates were nominated in December, the residents dispute this and demand that the process should start all over again.
The local Georgedale community hall was packed to capacity with residents who wanted to pick their own candidates.
Hundreds of residents, led by Jacob Sosibo, said they were "fed up" with the manner in which the nominations were held last year.
"Today we are renominating the people who we want to stand for election as ward councillors.
"We are unhappy with the present ward councillor who has done nothing to uplift this community.
"We have problems with the manner in which tenders are awarded. We are also unhappy that outside contractors come and work in our area, to the detriment of localpeople," Sosibo said.
But current ward councillor Enoch Shabalala disputed this. He said he had done everything in his power to ensure that service delivery in the area was up to scratch.
"I've been a councillor in this area since 1996 and have ensured that more than 5000 houses were electrified, that there is running water in homes. There are about 1500 people who don't have to leave this area to look for work because I found jobs for them," said Shabalala.
The disgruntled residents insisted that they wanted "local new blood" to lead them
"If Shabalala is not removed, there will be huge problems here," said Sosibo.
The tense standoff between the rival candidates and their supporters forced police to intervene when nominations began late yesterday afternoon.
Anger over ANC choice of candidates
POLICE maintained a heavy presence at Hammersdale's Georgedale area in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday as thousands of residents voiced their opposition to the list of candidates who have been nominated to stand as ward councillors.
The area is an ANC stronghold and home to about 13000 residents. The residents claim the nominated candidates for the positions of ward councillors were elected "undemocratically".
Although the local ANC leadership said the candidates were nominated in December, the residents dispute this and demand that the process should start all over again.
The local Georgedale community hall was packed to capacity with residents who wanted to pick their own candidates.
Hundreds of residents, led by Jacob Sosibo, said they were "fed up" with the manner in which the nominations were held last year.
"Today we are renominating the people who we want to stand for election as ward councillors.
"We are unhappy with the present ward councillor who has done nothing to uplift this community.
"We have problems with the manner in which tenders are awarded. We are also unhappy that outside contractors come and work in our area, to the detriment of localpeople," Sosibo said.
But current ward councillor Enoch Shabalala disputed this. He said he had done everything in his power to ensure that service delivery in the area was up to scratch.
"I've been a councillor in this area since 1996 and have ensured that more than 5000 houses were electrified, that there is running water in homes. There are about 1500 people who don't have to leave this area to look for work because I found jobs for them," said Shabalala.
The disgruntled residents insisted that they wanted "local new blood" to lead them
"If Shabalala is not removed, there will be huge problems here," said Sosibo.
The tense standoff between the rival candidates and their supporters forced police to intervene when nominations began late yesterday afternoon.
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