Angry residents of Ward 13 in Suurman Hammanskraal disrupted the program of the ward committee meeting called by Councilor Obert Moreriane yesterday at the Suurman Community Hall.
The residents said the councilor chose a wrong day for the meeting because yesterday was a day to celebrate the life of Solomon Mahlangu who was hanged by the apartheid government in 6 April 1979.
Otita Aphane, a resident and also an African National Congress (ANC) member accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of undermining black people.
“The white led authorities of the DA disregard black life, this is the day to celebrate the life of a legend that gave us the freedom we have today, they simply chose a wrong day.
“We cannot come to a meeting to adopt by-laws on a day when we should be commemorating Solomon Mahlangu, the Councillor must go and tell his white leaders that the black people refused to come to the meeting to adopt the by-laws on this day.
“The issue of by-laws is very important, we cannot have such an important meeting when only a few people are able to attend because the majority are attending to the commemoration of Solomon Mahlangu, said Aphane.
The Ward 13 Councilor, Mr Obert Moreriane, said the date for the meeting to adopt by-laws was set a long time ago and it is unfortunate that the ANC members decided to disrupt the meeting demanding a postponement.
“People have a right to have a say in government decision processes and it is unfortunate that the meeting was disrupted and we will report the matter to the authorities to set another day,” said Mr Moreriane.