Fetakgomo residents want their local municipality back

APEL – The Bring Back Fetakgomo Movement organised a mass meeting in Apel for communities in the old Fetakgomo Local Municipality on 16 June.

The mass gathering was in attempt to register residents’ concerns regarding the merger of the former municipality with the Tubatse Local Municipality.

Fetakgomo and Tubatse local municipalities were merged to form Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality in 2016.

Lucky Raphiri, Bring Back Fetakgomo Movement spokesperson, said the meeting was prompted by the vital need to get Fetakgomo Local Municipality back in order for communities to access service.

Raphiri indicated that the 2016 merger of the two municipalities has comprised service delivery in Fetakgomo.

Raphiri stated that residents are now also faced with a predicament of having to travel between 100 and 120 kilometers to access services in Burgersfort.

“Things are getting worse in Fetakgomo since the implementation of the merger and the situation is costing the area service delivery. Everything now is done in Tubatse and we are left behind in terms of service delivery,” cited Raphiri.

He added that people in Fetakgomo have been opposed to the merger from the onset but the demarcation board would not listen and went ahead with it.

“Even our traditional leaders never agreed to the move and they recommended to be at least merged with Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality. The demarcation board made a serious mistake on this merger,” pointed out Raphiri.

He further announced plans for a petition to be signed by residents of Fetakgomo for submission to the demarcation board.

“This battle can be won. Some of the municipalities in the country have done it. The possibilities are there,” concluded Raphiri.