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The residents in Mahikeng, in the North West, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of service delivery in the only way they know how, to make government listen i.e. in protest - and as it is reported that police have fired rubber bullets at the disgruntled residents. The UDM condemns the use of rubber bullets against community members during service delivery protests, for how soon will live rounds be used and we will have another Marikana on our hands?

Moreover, on 6 June 2020, the South African Human Rights Commission had already expressed its concern with the rising cases of law enforcement officers overstepping their mark. 

The residents say they have had complaints for many years, but that their complaints have fallen on deaf ears. The organisers of the shutdown say the protest will continue, and that all roads leading to the central business district will remain barricaded.

The primary concerns relate to the poor condition of roads, inadequate storm water management, and the accumulation of rubbish in their neighbourhoods. The residents revealed that these issues have been neglected for far too long and are having a detrimental impact on their daily lives.

Lack of service delivery is not unique to Mahikeng, it is rampant across the country. In our highly unequal post-apartheid context, underprivileged South African communities bear the brunt of poor basic service delivery, particularly where water, sanitation and electricity are concerned. Only in the first half of 2023 alone, there were 122 service delivery protests across the country. 

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned that service delivery is only made a national focus during election times, where it is partnered with elaborate empty promises. 

We need to start addressing service delivery with the seriousness it deserves, understanding its direct impact on the empowerment of the individuals in our society, and its power to construct a formidable society overall.

Service delivery protests have become a norm in South Africa because local municipalities and national governments only listens when there is protest action. Protests have become the solution to make government listen to ordinary people’s grievances. 

The UDM believes that service delivery is the most critical factor of each and every department within the Public Service and to ensure effective governance a UDM government will implement the following principles:

• Measurement of each department by the services they deliver and the difference these services make to the quality of life of each South African.
• A professional, efficient, and customer-centric public service, committed to delivering quality services to citizens as a constitutionally enshrined right.
• Regular training and upskilling of public servants.
• Delivery of services without prejudice and favouritism by public servants
• Neatness in dress and a discipline code, as well as etiquette in civil service, will be enforced.

Issued by United Democratic Movement Secretary General Yongama Zigebe