Mavhona upbeat on her work
ALEXANDRA – Be at one with the people to succeed says Mavhona.
Councillor Sannie Mavhona of Ward 75 is taking her councillor’s job, which is not for the faint-hearted, in her stride.
This is in a ward which has hostel and shack dwellers, mushrooming spaza shops and informal traders and residents of flats and homeowners. They live across the main road from residents of another ward who occupy disused factories.
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Mavhona who wants to fulfil all her promises she has made to residents during her term said she relied on positive relationships and being truthful to residents in her public duty, regardless of their political affiliation.
“Truth and frankness reduce tensions and residents appreciate [you] when they know the challenges faced by a councillor who is trying to fulfil their needs,” she said.
“I appreciate exchanging openly with them to dispel negative views they may have of me, as I represent every one of them. The truth sets both of us free of wrong perceptions about the other.”
She is faced with mammoth challenges in service delivery and social cohesion. “Violent crime is increasing particularly on weekends with murder and robberies common between 3rd and 6th avenues.
“They are committed using guns and knives and victims found without anything are beaten and maimed and told to carry items worthy of stealing.” She said witnesses of these crimes did not report them fearing reprisals.
Mavhona is also concerned about criminals who take drugs which apparently gives them the courage to kill, rob and rape victims.
“A woman was hauled from a taxi, dragged to a disused factory and raped. A man was killed and burnt in June and another was also killed more recently.” She noted that those taking the nyaope drug appeared to be non-violent and mostly stole items to sell for money to maintain their addiction.
She urged residents to report known drug dealers to the police. “It’s residents’ role to partner in crime combating especially with criminals living among us.”
Mavhona also urged residents to attend integrated development planning meetings. “They miss out on opportunities to influence their areas’ development only to complain later. Those who complain are sometimes suspects of illegal power connections and threaten council officials doing maintenance and emergency work.”
