President's promises on service delivery meant nothing, say residents
Embattled President Jacob Zuma was under fire again, this time for failing to deliver on promises made to poor residents of Siyathemba township, in Mpumalanga.
Protesters took to the streets of the township, just outside Balfour, and barricaded roads with logs, burning tyres and stones. More than 20 shops owned by foreigners were looted.
Mpumalanga police spokeswoman Superintendent Sibongile Nkosi said 22 people had been arrested for public violence and damage to property.
The protesters demanded that Zuma return to the area to address deficient service delivery they had complained about to him when he visited the area after similar protests last year.
They demanded that Balfour be incorporated into Gauteng, warning that failure to do so could lead to "another Khutsong", referring to another township where violent protests were staged over provincial boundaries.
Siyathemba residents are also unhappy with the local gold mining company, Burnstone, which they accuse of not employing people from the area.
But Dawie Mostert, vice-president of human capital at Great Basin Gold, the parent company of Burnstone mine, said most of the employees were, in fact, local residents.
Balfour shot to international prominence soon after Zuma was sworn in as president last year and violent protests engulfed the area.
In what was hailed as a welcome break with previous government practice, Zuma made an unannounced visit to the area and later announced measures that would address the community's demands.
