Build One South Africa (BOSA) youth leader Henry Masuku criticized the City of Johannesburg’s attitude towards its residents, accusing the government of failing to properly consult people before making decisions. He participated in a protest outside the Johannesburg City Council offices in Braamfontein, demanding Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda’s resignation.
The protest by the Johannesburg Crisis Alliance was triggered by among other things – the introduction of a R200 surcharge for prepaid electricity customers. Masuku urges councilors to think about the people they serve. “It speaks to the void that exists between the residents of the city and the government of the city. We feel that consultation should have been done so that we could determine what is the acceptable amount- who can afford it, who cannot afford it. We’re worried about the infrastructure that we have- part of the reason why they have to keep going up with the prices is because the infrastructure is rotten,” he says.
Masuku also stated that the Alliance was dismayed by the way the government of Johannesburg had handled the issue. “They’ve tried to avoid addressing the surcharge problem. So, we urge the mayor to consult with the residents of Johannesburg and consider the needs of those who cannot afford it,” he explained.
