Sanco: We want Tshwane to be put under administration
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Gauteng has confirmed it is behind the total shutdown protests that erupted across the capital area early on Thursday morning.
Sanco is demanding better service delivery and for City Manager Moeketsi Mosola to be fired.
Traffic was brought to a standstill in vast areas, with roads blocked with burning tyres, rubble and rocks from Pretoria West, through Soshanguve, Mabopane, Themba and Hammanskraal in the north.
On Wednesday evening a banner was circulating on social media, calling for the total shutdown.
Sanco regional chairperson in Gauteng, Matlakala Mashishi, says they want the Tshwane Metro administration to be collapsed and put under administration in terms of section 139 of the constitution, which obliges the Provincial Executive Council (PEC) to intervene in a municipality through assuming responsibility for the relevant obligation to the extent that is necessary.
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"The shutdown is made from Sanco as it consists of service delivery issues, particularly the corruption as you are aware since the DA /EFF coalition came in power there is nothing that has happened.
"Our people give us a mandate to say enough is enough. City manager Dr. Mosola should vacate office with immediate effect and therefore the community is standing up."
Mashishi adds they also want to prevent Tshwane Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa from delivering his first State of the Capital address at Tshwane House on Thursday morning.
"We are saying that they couldn't spend 50 % of the budget they only spent 20%," says Mashishi.
"All corners must be blocked, no one must go out, we don't want to listen to this state of the city address."
Mashishi has denied the protests are linked to political campaigning in the run up to the election.
"In the previous administration which was led by the ANC, we were unhappy and put pressure on them to delivery services."