By Joseph Chirume.
Engcobo
The usually peaceful little town of Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, has been embroiled in sporadic shutdown for over a month by angry residents who are unhappy with the Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality.
They accuse the top municipal officials of failing to provide basic service delivery and also of not fulfilling previous agreements they agreed upon. The protesters eventually wrote a petition to President Cyril Ramaphosa whom they gave seven days to respond.
The staggered protest action is being led by the local branch of the South African National Civic Organization (SANC0). They are demanding improved service delivery and the immediate removal of municipal manager, Khathutshelo Mulaudzi who they accuse of being corrupt, blaming him for having a hand in the current appalling service delivery malaise, allegedly due to employing incompetent people through nepotism.
The protest action has had its fair share of interesting moments with the AbaThembu king, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo weighing in on Monday as he unequivocally expressed his support for the protesters. The king also lashed out at the officials for failing to act competently to restore service delivery in the area in time.
Dalindyebo called for a financial audit of the municipality’s books and urged it to account for the collapse of the town’s services. He ended up summoning top municipal officials for a meeting at his royal palace.
Tension also flared up on the same day when SANCO members gathered in front of the municipality offices in a brazen breach of a court order obtained by the municipality barring them from doing so.
Not to be outdone was council speaker, Thembelani Kondile who mobilised some ANC councillors and their supporters to a physical confrontation with SANCO protesters. The angry ANC members accused SANCO of bringing the town’s business to a halt by forcing shops and other businesses to close down.
Police spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela told The Messenger, “Police deployed members from various units including Public Order Policing to ensure the safety and security of everyone during such actions. People have a constitutional right to voice their dissatisfaction through peaceful protest actions or demonstrations.”
Captain Mgolodela said the protests started on 19 May 2025 adding that the shutdown is conducted on certain days of the week. Captain Mgolodela said that, “Three suspects were arrested on 26 May 2025 for allegations of intimidation.”
SANCO said based on previous agreements with the municipality that ended in futile, this time they had no option but to embark on a protracted shutdown of the town alleging that their grievances were falling on deaf ears, adding that their last hope was none other than President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The petition reads, “We, the South African National Civic Organization (SANCO), Bantu Songca Sub-region, write to you with utmost respect, bearing a mandate from our members. Despite numerous attempts to present our petition to your office and requests for an official to collect it in person, we have been unsuccessful.”
The petition explains, “Essential services such as water supply, waste management are not available, local infrastructure such as roads are not maintained in all wards, the only park, Heroes Park is not maintained. Rate payers are expected to pay for nonavailable services.
The petition adds,”…the non-implementation of agreed plans by the previous council to build taxi ranks in identified areas thus also addressing the issue of hawkers. The petition accuses the municipality of depleting municipal savings by R46 million and abusing the procurement process. Several supply chain regulations are not being followed to the letter.”
SANCO accuses the municipality of not publishing tender documents on its website, culminating in prospective tender applicants being left out. The protesters are angry that some staff members were being arbitrarily suspended. They say the Municipal Manager practices nepotism by appointing relatives or children of those who are influential.
They concluded their petition by demanding that the national government should place the municipality under administration.
The town’s Mayor Siyabulela Zangqa said in an interview with Engcobo FM that he was prepared to engage with the protesters and blamed SANCO for side-lining him by directly approaching President Ramaphosa. He also doubted the authenticity of some of the protesters, doubting whether they are bona-fide SANCO members.
