Residents of Makeleketla want to set the record straight about protests that led to several arrests.

Thato Motalingoana, who is one of the concerned community members, said Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela made false allegations, that people from Winburg are protesting for water services. The OFM News team visited Winburg on Monday 19 April 2020 and spoke to members of the community to find out what caused the protest. There was a strong police presence and N1 traffic heading to Winburg was diverted to other roads.

The visit of South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Human Rights Day, as expected by Winburg residents, was seen as an opportunity for members of the community to address their concerns. "People from Winburg are not demanding the president to come to Winburg. They were promised and there was an announcement that the president is coming here. They are not fighting for the president to come here. They are saying Sisi Ntombela must withdraw the statement to say the president must go to Botshabelo. She must leave the president and his office to continue to visit the Free State province, more especially the first town in the Free State, Winburg," said Motalingoana.

Residents of Makeleketla say they want the president to see the maladministration happening in their community. This includes unfinished projects within the municipality. Some of the issues include the struggling veterans, who were looking forward to being visited by the president, to see their living conditions. However, they haven't been told that the president will now be celebrating Human Rights Day at Botshabelo, rather than in Winburg, like they were promised before.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi