Moutse demarcation issues take new direction

Dennilton

Moutse Joint Demarcation Forum (MJDF), says it has arranged for a series of programmes aiming to pressure government to incorporate Elias Motsoaledi and Moutse West from Limpopo to Mpumalanga Province.

The structure was formed with intentions to engage with the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) and other relevant government departments to return Moutse to Mpumalanga Province, citing poor delivery of services in Limpopo. Moutse was incorporated from Mpumalanga into Limpopo in 2004 and since then, residents in the area are fighting to see their place being returned back to Mpumalanga.

In 2009, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Coghta), conducted a referendum that will determine the views of Moutse residents whether they want to stay in Limpopo or to return to Mpumalanga. However, the results of the referendum were never released, fuelling a number of violent protests by the affected community.

MJDF Secretary, Cassel Masilela, said they will be starting with active demarcation programmes that will be conducted in various parts of Elias Motsoaledi and Ephraim Mogale Local Municipalities.

“Is time for action and MJDF will be starting with solid actions to pressure the government and the ruling party to prepare to take us to Mpumalanga Province,” he said.

Masilela said the forum will start with stakeholders’ engagement meetings before conducting tangible actions, which will include peaceful demonstrations at various government departments.

“We will embark on a peaceful picketing along the main roads in Matlerekeng, Sehlakwane, Zaaiplaas and Groblersdal Town to signal the cabinet of South Africa to release the view testing votes,” he said.

Masilela added that the demonstrations will be stretched to other places such as Moteti Shopping Centre, Philadelphia Hospital main road and Loskop Dam road.

“The message will be clear, is either they consider our demands and release the results of the referendum or we continue with the demonstrations until our pleas are heard,” he said.

Masilela indicated that the forum is preparing for a big march to the Mpumalanga Legislature and the Union Buildings in a few months to come.

“Equally, in both these upcoming demonstrations, the peoples’ petition to the Human Rights Commission and Constitutional Court will be completed by the demonstrators from 16 to 17 August 2022, which will be delivered by MJDF and stakeholders at the commission and Constitutional Court offices in Johannesburg and Braamfontein,” explained Masilela.

Masilela said their demonstrations will not disrupt schools and other government services in the affected places.