Activist Tessa Dooms wants politicians to work for the people

Activist and director at the Rivonia Circle, Tessa Dooms has accused councilors in the city of Johannesburg of failing the people who put them in power. She was addressing crowds at a protest in Braamfontein under the banner of the Johannesburg Crisis Alliance.

The alliance has called for the resignation of Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, who they’ve called arrogant and not interested in meeting the people.

Another issue of contention is the R200 electricity surcharge for prepaid customers which has sparked widespread outrage in the city.

Dooms says the march is not about singling out the mayor.

“We want the politicians to hear us, hear us, and hear us now. We have the power to hire them and we’ve hired the councilors to work for us. Our councilors are not working for the parties – they must work for us. We hire them, and we have the power and the ability to fire them. They want to make this about one person, this is not about Mayor Gwamanda as an individual, we’re not talking about Gwamanda the man, we’re talking about a mayor of our city who’s politically accountable for his actions.”

Calls for the removal of Joburg Mayor by civic organisations: