Gatvol businessmen demand change in MAP

By Masilo Malakwane

QWAQWA – Members of the business community who are fed up with lack of service delivery in Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality say they want nothing but change, with the local government elections a few days away.

Business owners, mostly funeral parlour operators, thronged the streets of QwaQwa on Sunday morning, to urge residents of Maluti a Phofung (MAP) to vote for a party, civic movement or independent candidate that will change the dire state of the municipality.

Prominent QwaQwa Businessman, Thite Titi of Tlholo Victory Financial Services, ruffled feathers with a viral voice recording in which he was encouraging people to vote for any party in Maluti a Phofung except for the ANC.

Titi told The Guard that the business community is not affiliated to any political party, but they want change that will guarantee service delivery.

“We call on all our community members to go out in their numbers on November 1 and use their vote as their voice that will deliver them to a better service delivery. Of course it is our wish to be led by local politicians here, because they understand the challenges we are facing such as poor water and electricity supply,” Titi said.

His sentiments were echoed by the chairperson of the Maluti-a-Phofung business fraternity Nelson Moekoa, who said they have suffered severely due to the Maluti-a-Phofung water and electricity crisis.

“Our businesses have made collective losses running into millions of rand as a result of the lack of basic services. Therefore, we encourage our clients to apply their minds when they vote this time around because we cannot go on this in QwaQwa,” Moekoa said.

Another businessman, Pule Morake who owns fast food outlets in Setsing and Naledi Mall, also said lack of water and electricity in QwaQwa has had an adverse effect on business.

A representative of medical doctors, Dr Sebeho Sebeho, said the MAP water and electricity crisis needed serious attention as jeopardizes the lives of patients.