PHOMOLONG TOWNSHIP, Free State – Hundreds of residents from Phomolong Township took to the streets on Wednesday, protesting what they call an unfair labour allocation at the R4.4-billion Middelpunt Solar Project.
The protesters, largely young people, reject the reported 60% local labour allocation, demanding instead that 80% of jobs go to community members. Some residents have gone further, insisting on a 100% share.
“People of Phomolong are demanding their job employment, and that share that we need is 80% of jobs. People must be hired from Phomolong. That’s what we demand,” said a resident, speaking to reporters at the scene.
Residents expressed frustration that politics has overshadowed their employment needs. “Everything has been politicised. Each and every time when it comes to Phomolong, it has to be politically inclined. We are tired of this politics,” one protester said.
Another young unemployed resident described the community’s mood as “not angry, but frustrated.”
“We know that a project is not going to be something that’s going to prolong. We just want jobs so that we can sustain ourselves. Why do they want to use it for campaign for the elections?” he asked.
Protesters claim the mayor has prevented the Middelpunt Solar Project management from engaging directly with the community. “We wanted to engage with the Middelpunt management. So now the mayor has intervened. It’s been politically inclined,” the young resident added.
Community members say they have attempted to engage with the mayor and municipal stakeholders, but those efforts have been unsuccessful. “We tried to engage with all the structure stakeholders, those people who are reliable for this mess, but they couldn’t come and negotiate and speak with the community,” he said.
Residents have warned that if their demands are not met, schools and businesses could be disrupted. One protester stated that the community would “keep on fighting and keep on burning and burning” until the plant management comes to talk to them.
Police were observed monitoring the situation at the protest site. No major disruptions had been reported at the time of publication, but tensions remain high as the community vows to continue its action until their demands are addressed.
