PROTEST HALTED AFTER FS PREMIER INTERVENES

By Staff Reporter

BLOEMFONTEIN-Stability has been restored in Mangaung following an intervention by Premier Sefora Ntombela on the second day of a violent protest by residents that ended by loss of teenager’s life.

Ntombela met with the leadership of Mangaung Community Concern, Mangaung Business Forum including South Africa Municipal Workers Union (SAMU) and leadership of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality where concerns raised were discussed and way forward mapped.

“We agree that issues raised by the leaders of our community are genuine and must be looked into as a matter of urgency. The state of our municipality is not at a desired level, and that is precisely why the provincial government has intervened. We are all in agreement that we want a functional municipality and we can achieve that if we join hands and work together,” Premier Ntombela said.

The meeting  agreed to develop a detailed signed agreement which binds all stakeholders outlining all the areas of concern as well as the time frames for implementation and monitoring.

“A joint project management team comprising of all the stakeholders will be developed as part of ensuring that the agreement is implemented in the interest of the community of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.”

The unfortunate incident where 15-year-old Jevano Liam Siegel, a Grade 7 pupil at Heide Primary school, lost his life was also noted and  agreed that the office of the Premier  oversee the burial processes in consultation with the family.

Furthermore, the meeting noted the urgency of ensuring that the lives of our people return to normal, such that schools reopen and people return to work.