The ANC Youth League of Ward 73 in Hammanskraal Kekana Gardens marched to Magalies Water on 4 October 2018 demanding that they be given internship and work opportunities. The youth also threatened to shut down operations if management of Magalies did not address their demands.
When Magalies Water Management did not honour the meeting, the Ward councillor in the area had to calm down the youth not to shut down operations as it would affect the community negatively.
The youth had already stopped workers from entering the premises and stopped any work in an effort to pressurise management to address their concerns urgently.
Previously, in a meeting held in August 2018, Magalies Water promised to conduct workshops for the youth to train them on water reticulation, procurement processes and that the institution will offer internships.
A youth leader in the area, Lucas Ndaba, said the reason for the need to put Magalies Water under pressure was because they did not keep to their promise while the youth in the area did not have any opportunities for intenships, work or business opportunities.
“The workshop that was supposed to happen on 24 August 2018 did not take place and there was no explanation for reneging on the promise.
“Procurement opportunities for young people was also promised including taking in interns from January next year and since the workshop did not take place, we have lost hope that any of those promises will materialise.
“He said it seemed the procument division was ready to proceed with the workshops but management stopped them and we were not informed why the process was stopped,” he said.