Central SA
Empty promises shock Bfn family after death of son─── BLAINE JONES 13:00 Fri, 28 Jan 2022
A family from Heidedal, Bloemfontein, is shocked by the lack of support they have received after promises from the Free State Premier and local government after they lost their son.
The parents of the late 14-year-old, Jevano Liam Siegel, says they received no support from anyone despite various promises being made.
OFM News previously reported that the #MangaungShutdown protests in May 2021 caused the disruption of schools and lead to major unrest. As the first wave of service delivery protests hit Bloemfontein, violence erupted, leading to the death of Liam, allegedly at the hands of a security guard who fired shots to disperse the crowd, hitting Siegel in the process.
READ MORE: #MangaungShutdown: VS Premier besoek Siegel-familie
Liam’s father, Johannes Pieterse says after his son’s burial he stopped counting on people. He says he felt as if his family wasn’t taken seriously. Pieterse says the Premier of the Free State, Sisi Ntombela, made various promises of support to the family but did nothing.
The mother, Rosaline Siegel, says she wants justice to unveil itself. She says she is tired of all the empty promises made by everyone and after the funeral, everyone completely disappeared - to this day.
READ MORE: Liam Siegel se ouers dankbaar vir ondersteuning
OFM News has since sent questions to the spokesperson of the Premier's Office in the Free State. Spokesperson Sello Pietersen acknowledged the queries. Pietersen asked for a weekend to reflect and attend to the queries in a proper manner until a response is issued on Monday 31 January.
Mzwandile Phupha, president of the National Unemployed Voters' Organisation (NUVO), says the people in charge cannot lead but expect community members to vote when the time comes. He says no one is pushing or confronting the people in charge.
“No one is pushing these people who are saying they are the premiers, the mayors, and leaders. Those are public servants. They are serving us. They are not bosses but they are acting like bosses because they are enriching themselves with our money. So, immediately after I was alerted of this family’s situation I came to see them,” says Phupha.
He says they are determined to confront the relevant people with this situation and to get justice for this family.
OFM News
