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23 Mar 2012

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Richard Baloyi will today continue his engagements with Ratanda stakeholders in an effort to find solutions to the problems that have sparked protests in the Heidelberg community this week.

Following yesterday's meeting with the Ratanda Community Forum and other community leaders, the minister and his cabinet colleagues were able to ascertain the community demands which have plunged Heidelberg into violent protests.

The ministerial fact finding visit in the area yesterday found that the Ratanda community grievances related mostly to the alleged high electricity rates, lack of clarity on the municipal indigent policy and other service delivery issues.

These will form basis of the CoGTA’s ongoing stakeholder meetings which will, this afternoon, be joined by the Gauteng government and provincial leadership of the ANC.

“Government is committed to listening to the community and work with it to find lasting solutions to their service delivery problems. As CoGTA, I will ensure that all the parties are on board and committed to respond to community grievances,” says Minister Baloyi

Meanwhile, Minister Baloyi has appealed for calmness and requests the Ratanda community to desist from damaging public property and other violent conduct while the government is working with the community representatives to resolve its grievances.

The minister has emphasized that the rule of law shall be upheld and any involvement in illegal conduct will result to criminal charges against the involved individuals.

For further information and request for interviews please contact:
Tommy Ntsewa
Special Advisor to the Minister Baloyi
Cell: 082 052 4600

Issued by: Department of Cooperative Governance
23 Mar 2012

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