CARLETONVILLE - Police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesting residents outside the State of the City Address by Merafong Mayor Nozuko Best.
The crowd tried to storm the venue, accusing the municipality of neglect and corruption, and ignoring the growing sinkhole crisis.
"This mayor must resign, together with the Municipal Manager, because they are useless to this community. Our own people are being denied an opportunity to enter to listen to the mayor, what kind of leader is like that?," one community activist said.
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The municipality says it's not equipped to deal with the ongoing sinkhole crisis, having asked for funds and expertise from higher levels of government.
"I know that in terms of the sinkhole issues, it's an issue that we have raised with provincial government and provincial said it must be raised with national government so that as three spheres of government we try to resolve it and try to work as a team," said Elvis Mphithikezi, who is the municipal speaker.
The mayor refused to comment.
By: Theodor Mashele