AMC blames leaders for QwaQwa industrial collapse

By Teboho Moloi

QWAQWA — The African Movement Congress (AMC) in Maluti-A-Phofung has launched a scathing attack on local politicians, accusing them of collapsing QwaQwa’s industrial backbone and fuelling soaring unemployment.

AMC leader in MAP, Lebohang Rapulane, says decades of neglect and self-interest have killed local industrialisation, leaving factories shuttered and thousands jobless.

“We attempted on various occasions to save MAP, but those leading local government gave us a cold shoulder,” said Rapulane.

He said the AMC fought to protect factories to preserve industrial dignity, human dignity, and jobs.

“Current local politicians are just looking out for their stomachs and do not care about the communities’ real needs. They want the community to always be in need, closing opportunities that the factory industry could create,” Rapulane charged.

He said reviving the local economy hinges on one thing: industrialisation. Re-opening all closed factories will create jobs for unemployed residents, he argued.

The AMC also blamed the municipality’s collapsing service delivery — constant electricity cuts and water shedding — for driving factories out of business.

“Water and electricity shedding are deliberate and intentional political man-made problems. If we are voted into power to take over the municipality, we could fix all these challenges in a period of a month,” he claimed.

Rapulane further cautioned residents against marches targeting foreign-owned shops, warning communities not to be used by political opportunists.

He accused Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, known as Phakel’umthakathi, of hiding behind marches against illegal foreign-owned shops to score political points.