These protestors marched onto their ward councillor, Magda Williams' home in Rheenendal, where she is recovering from recent surgery. They demanded that she answers their questions. "Firstly, the march was illegal and secondly, I can't give them answers, only the municipality can do that," she said.
The municipality confirmed that the march was in fact illegal "which means that the marchers did not apply with the responsible officer, in this case Mario Bonthuys at the Knysna Municipality", explained acting municipal manager, Reggie Smit. He further explained that no group may march on the private homes of individuals "no matter their designations within an organisation".
The Knysna Law Enforcement officers as well as members of the SAPS were present during the march to ensure the safety of Williams and her family while the protestors remained outside her home.
"On arrival police found a group of people who gathered on the street, since about 09:00," explained Constable Chris Spies, Knysna SAPS liaison officer. Additional SAPS personnel were deployed from the Knysna Police as well as the Area Crime Combatting Unit, which is based in George, in an effort to deal with the situation.
A list of the protestors' complaints were handed to Williams. In it the protestors demand work, land for houses, land for small-scale farmers, housing for all, a better clinic, a bigger youth centre, a soup kitchen, a building where the issue of work creation could be addressed, paved roads and that farm workers' working environment be addressed.
"Council takes note of the concerns listed in the flyers they distributed, and while some of the issues mentioned are not the mandate of the municipality, we will continue to endeavour to improve the lives of all its residents," concluded Smit.
Williams expressed her shock at the behaviour of the protestors, saying that she had been working for better services within her community "for a very long time". Williams explained that during the ANC rule in Knysna she had demanded better services and now that she was the ward councillor, she was constantly trying to improve the living conditions of the residents. "Rome wasn't built in a day and I can't fix the previous ruling party's mess in a few months," she said.
"I have lived amongst these protestors for decades, and they know how hard I have been working to improve their lives," explained a hurt Williams. She added that she had used her ward allocation of R200 000 to improve the lives of the Rheenendal residents. "I created work for 80 people for four weeks, which helped put food on their tables. I also bought school clothes and paid school fees for the children whose parents couldn't afford to. Five toilets have been installed for the disabled and elderly who, until recently had to use outside toilets, just to mention a few things that I have done for the people," said Williams.
She said that she hoped that the residents in Rheenendal would notice that things are changing in Rheenendal. "The residents need to notice what is happening around them and they should be a little more positive," she said.
Williams pointed out that the issues that the residents were now complaining about were the same problems which she had brought to their attention during the previous ruling party's reign. "Why was nothing done while the ANC was in charge? I am doing everything in my power, but there are some of the residents, I don't want to mention their names, who will always thwart what I am doing. I appeal to the residents to do something to help, instead of organising illegal marches and throwing stones."
She concluded, "Stop breaking down our village and expecting the Knysna Municipality to cough up. I think the residents should look back and ask the question, 'What have we done for our village and its people?'."
Spies said that after the protestors were informed of the consequences they would face should they continue with their actions, they dispersed peacefully. "The Knysna Police opened a case in terms of the Gatherings Act following the incident. No arrests have yet been made," he concluded.
Several Rheenendal residents took part in an illegal service delivery march.
