By: Cassandra Zungu

Clermont residents say they will not vote until the eThhekwini municipality attends to their grievances as they marched to the City Hall on Friday and handed over their memorandum.

With just four days left to the national elections, the Land Owners Association of Clermont members say they refuse to vote when their needs are not met.

Coordinator of the association,  Nathi Molefe said it is not their plan to not vote until the municipality delivers to their needs.

“Clermont residents are very much supportive of the African National Congress and by threatening to not vote, we are simply giving the eThekwini municipality an ultimatum,” Molefe said.

He further claimed that about 40 residents received summons from the court saying they are behind in payments of R30 000 or more in water and electricity rates.
The Mayor was not available to accept their memorandum.

Gogo’Nhlapo a retired nurse from Clermont was disappointed at the mayor.

“He received a notice weeks before we came here, he knew we were coming! Why didn’t he respond and tell us he won’t be available today instead of making u fools? We could have made other arrangements, she said.

The retired nurse says Clermont is filthy and underdeveloped.

Clermont Residents were not afraid to express their grief. Pictures by: Cassandra Zungu

“People are building houses and shacks shabbily and they throw dirt outside their houses, pipes are leaking onto the roads. There is no building or health inspectors, it’s a mess, she said.

Sipho Mthethwa who is a municipality official received the memorandum on behalf of the mayor and promised they will get a response as soon as the mayor receives the memorandum.

Land Owners Association of Clermont Secretary Zakwe Dludla says they are giving the municipality 14 working days to respond.

“Until then, municipal operations and voting will be disrupted in Clermont and residents will not pay their rates”, said Dludla.