‘Don't lose hope’ - Maimane

MOKOPANE - “Don’t lose hope, we are better than them,” Mmusi Maimane, the parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) told the Mokopane community at the Service Centre for the Elderly on Tuesday.
His visit to Mokopane was part of a 'Power to the People' tour to consult South Africans on the real state of the nation.
Maimane referred to corrupt politicians as "vultures taking grip on the municipality".
On Tuesday night he told people how SAPS Nyalas and seven other police vehicles blocked his path and prevented him from meeting with the municipal manager and other officials earlier that day. He accused police of working for the a faction that has unlawfully taken control of the municipality.
“The use of police in Mogalakwena for political thuggery is unacceptable.”
But provincial police spokesperson, Col. Ronél Otto claims police had to prevent a group of 150 people that wanted to accompany him from entering the municipality. Otto said in an effort to maintain the peace, they were willing to admit six individuals.
The municipal premises has been a political hot pot since November last year, ready to explode at any moment.
Maimane implored community members to unite against corruption instead of fighting each other.
He undertook to intervene in an effort to restore the municipality to the healthy state it was in before.
"The municipality belongs to the people of the town, not to any politicians or to the SAPS,” Maimane said.
He said that it is time that the people of Mogalakwena take back that power by voting differently in the 2016 Local Government Elections.