Tshwane Shutdown: Ramaphosa only cares about Joburg

Over 100 residents from Hamaanskraal, Mabopane, GaRankuwa, Winterveld, Mamelodi and Atteredgiville gathered at the old Putco depot in Tshwane on Monday before mading their way to the Union Buildings to hand over a list of demands.

Demands include a flat electricity rate, for government to do away with foreign hawkers and other service delivery concerns.

Organiser of Tshwane Shutdown and part of the Inwoners Baaghi Civic Movement, Jomo Rapholo, says residents feel neglected.

"The Tshwane people believe that whenever the people of Johannesburg snap their fingers, the president runs. We come to his home where he resides, where he works, he refuses to just be decent and meet us.

"That is just a sign of arrogance to say: ‘Actually I do not beg your numbers, I do not beg your votes’. So the president is simply saying, do not vote for me. So how can we vote for a person we do not trust, how do we vote for a president who does not respect us?

"As residents we feel annoyed, we feel disrespected, we feel ashamed. We start to understand that this president is not a politician, but a white-made businessman," he says.

Rapholo says he and other members of the Tshwane shutdown will sleep outside the Union Buildings until Ramaphosa addresses their concerns.

"I will be sleeping on the Union Buildings ground and hopefully the president will come. I will hand over the memorandum on behalf of the communities.”

Speaking outside the Union Buildings, a 71- year old woman told media that she cannot afford the city's municipal rates.

She says she owes more than R35 000.