McCarthy�s Rust residents threaten to boycott elections
Zolani Kraai | Wednesday August 13, 2014 14:41
These startling revelations were made during a Kgotla meeting addressed by the Kgalagadi District Council (KGDC) officials.
McCarthy’s Rust acting Headman Surprise Medupe told the fully packed Kgotla that they had earlier made a decision as the community not to vote in the October 24 forthcoming elections. This, he said followed Minister Peter Siele’s announcement that government had decided not to recognise McCarthy’s Rust as a settlement because its population was less than what the settlement policy required.
“We don’t see any benefit for us to vote,” said Medupe.
The Headman also took a shot at KGDC Chairman Frans Van Der Westerhuizen whom he berated for deciding to host Minister Siele at Hukuntsi during a full council meeting held on July 8.
Medupe narrated the history of the settle- ment. He said the community first settled at McCarthy’s Rust in 1946, mentioning that they have since buried their loved ones there.
“While we decry lack of services it is the same Land Board that is refusing to regularise the land for land allocation. Why is everyone talking about numbers because we are unable to increase because our relatives have decided to migrate to Tsabong while others opted to seek employment in South Africa?” charged Medupe.
He stated that they are unable to access government schemes be- cause they do not have plot certifi- cates that act as security for some of the packages.
The same Land Board and government of- ficials would come to McCarthy’s Rust to consult us on government intended projects and we would be surprise to learn that they al- ways liaise with our VDC though they do not recognise it when it comes to planning for the settlement especially on the issue of recognising our settlement,” said Medupe.
He also slammed the District Commissioner for Kgalagadi Moemedi Letina for not attempting to visit them in the past to lesson to their remedies. “The DC has in the past shunned us stating that people will perceive his visit irrelevant,” Medupe said. Letina would not respond to the accusations.
In response, the outgoing Tsabong South Councilor and Sub-District chairperson Sam Brooks promised to work with the incoming councilor for the area and council and govern- ment officials especially the leadership forum to help resolve the matter. “I urge you to be patient as you have been in the past and please go and vote for your potential and inspired leader who will help redress the issue,” said Brooks.