The Nkonkobe Local Municipality says Eastern Cape Finance MEC, Sakhumzi Somyo, is meeting with the mayor and a community task team to address grievances that led to a protest in Hogsback on Thursday night.Municipal Manager, Lusanda Menze, says residents took to the streets after Somyo had apparently not responded to an earlier letter from the residents to the mayor.He says the protesting residents damaged power cables leaving the village without electricity.
Menze says all stakeholders are meeting in Alice and Eskom is working on restoring power supply."We have got a task team that is currently meeting with the MEC and the Mayor, because what they are looking for is a response to a letter which we had returned a letter that was filed by the Mayor on behalf of the community. I am hoping we will have answers after the meeting" he saidMeanwhile, Menze says the municipality was unaware that the popular Christmas in July Festival, planned for this weekend, was cancelled.
The festival's organiser, Shane Eads, told Algoa FM News that they decided to cancel the event to show solidarity with local residents, who've been made promises by government.Menze says the municipality is one of the event's major sponsors.
