The Bisho administration displays arrogance reminiscent of the disdain that Bantustan leaders displayed to citizens
11 March 2015
The United Front in the Eastern Cape condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrogance displayed by the leadership of Bisho legislature in refusing to come and collect our memorandum of demands when we picketed outside the legislature on Friday 06 March.
The memorandum of demands was meant to be handed over to a government representative. We also had an agreement on picketing rules that made provisions that the United Front will hand over a memorandum of demands to a mandated official of government. Over and above this signed agreement, a letter was written on 04 March 2015 to remind them on what was to happen on the day of the picket. Legislature representatives confirmed receipt of this letter, but refused to come out and collect the memorandum. The conduct by leaders who were voted by the people not to collect our memorandum clearly shows that these leaders do not care. They are there for themselves and they are law unto themselves.
The fact that they called police to our peaceful picketing is a sign and proof that we are really in a police state. Ours was to deliver to them our demands for a provincial budget that is pro-poor communities and that addresses basic services to our people that are guaranteed in the Constitution of the Republic but are not received/enjoyed by our people.
The Eastern Cape United Front will not rest until these demands are met. We will continue to mobilise rank and file in every street, township and village to press forward until these demands are realised. The United Front is here to expose corruption that has characterized the Eastern Cape provincial and local government for the past 21 years.