Tshwane mayor apologises after Hammanskraal meeting descends into chaos

A water tanker delivers to residents of Hammanskraal. Picture: Gallo Images/Daily Maverick/Felix Dlangamandla City of Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya has apologised for the chaos in Hammanskraal when a small group of individuals disrupted a community meeting on Monday, after the mayor didn’t arrive. “Batho ba Hammanskraal, I am so deeply sorry for what happened,” said Moya yesterday.

“I was running late from an imbizo with informal traders and asked MMC Frans Boshielo to start in the meantime. “I was on my way when I was informed that it had to be adjourned for safety reasons.” MMC for community safety Hannes Coetzee said the public meeting in Hammanskraal was disrupted and postponed in the interest of public safety. The meeting, which was to take place at Makgoba Sebothoma Hall, was about to start when a small group of individuals disrupted proceedings through aggressive and unlawful behaviour.

“In the interest of public safety, the meeting was adjourned and has been postponed until further notice,” Coetzee said. “The city strongly condemns the conduct of those who sought to disrupt a lawful platform for community engagement.” Coetzee warned that any criminal damage to infrastructure, illegal connections, intimidation or disruption of municipal processes will be dealt with firmly by the Tshwane Metro Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. “As the political head of region 2, I acknowledge the leadership of the utility services team, led by MMC for utility services Frans Boshielo, and all officials who were present to account and engage with residents,” he said. Hammanskraal resident Theunis Vogel said residents were blaming the mayor and the MMC and accused the city of placing water trucks in the area instead of contractors to fix theunderlying water problem.