Premier Ntombela meets with the distraught Mangaung community

Protest action meeting

The Premier of the Free State, Sisi Ntombela and her Executive Council (EXCO) has met the leadership of Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC) protest action which brought business to a halt.

In attendance, were the delegation representing the Mangaung Concerned Community, the Premier accompanied by members of her Executive Council (EXCO) and the leadership of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.

The meeting found lasting solutions to the ongoing Mangaung Shutdown, which started on the 17th May 2021.

The meeting deliberated on the key concerns raised by the various stakeholders, including but not limited to the following: Lack of service delivery, access to business opportunities, sound Management of municipal affairs, access to land and dealing with corrupt and aloof government officials.

The parties for the better part of today, May 19, 2021, were locked in back to back meetings developing a detailed agreement and memorandum of understanding which will henceforth bind all stakeholders.

Time frames for the implementation have been set, an Oversight Task Team led by CoGTA has been appointed by the Premier, to rigorously deal with monitoring, working hand-in-glove with the Mangaung Concerned Community.

Furthermore, the meeting noted the urgency of ensuring that the lives of our people return to normal, such that schools reopen and people return to work.

The meeting noted the importance of ensuring that government work tirelessly will affect stakeholders, in ensuring that lockdown regulations are adhered to and to allow a process where our people, particularly, the elderly, are able to receive vaccination.

The meeting further agreed to urge our people to remain calm and allow this important agreement, to be implemented. Furthermore, the meeting urged all our people to suspend the shutdown and allow the binding agreement to be implemented.