Four years ago, he became a DA staff member and got involved with the DA out of pure frustration with what was happening in South Africa.
Out of desperation he put his weight and voice towards change, which he believed only the DA could bring.
Hoods grew up in Bloemfontein in the Free State, where he attended school.
He currently resides in Bardene but will be moving to Witfield at the end of August.
Hoods is happily married and a father to a beautiful 19-month-old baby girl.
Close-up with Hoods
Q: What do you love most about Boksburg?
A: Boksburg is just a beautiful place and has amazing and generous citizen living in it.
Q: What did you do before joining politics?
A: Most notable recent positions before joining the DA were at MultiChoice where I started out as a customer service representative. I worked my way into the quality assurance department and was an assistant to the systems administrator before leaving. I also worked for Nestlé SA as a service desk analyst.
Q: Are you actively involved in the community?
A: Yes, I am involved in the community but would like to do more. For Mandela Day this year I initiated the painting of the walls to the entrance of Delmore Gardens and received amazing assistance from the community and youth from the area.
Q: What would you be doing to promote yourself and to gain the trust of the residents you serve?
A: I plan to have more projects like the Delmore Gardens project all around Ward 33, which gets the community involved. I plan to have regular public meetings to listen to the concerns of the residents and regular information tables at busy shopping centers where I can have an opportunity to interact with residents from the area.
Q: What is your first priority in Ward 33?
A: To ensure that service delivery to the area runs like clockwork and to put together an independent development programme (IDP) for Ward 33 that will make a difference.
Q: What are your thoughts on Living Africa’s plans to relocate the residents of Angelo informal settlement?
A: Living conditions in Angelo informal settlement are inhumane and atrocious, which makes providing basic services to that community challenging. If residents of Angelo are relocated to a better location where settlement is structured and formalised, where services can be effectively rendered and their dignity restored, then I’m in support of such a move.
Q: How will you be tackling the municipal problems in Comet Village?
A: I will be engaging with relevant departments to ensure that services are rendered unabated to the community of Comet Village and the proposed projects for development are fast-tracked and completed.
Q: What other big challenges in Ward 33 will you be focusing on?
A: The mine dumps next to Delmore Park and Gardens are a serious health risk and its removal needs to be accelerated. The Wit Deep Road between Berton Park and Delmore Park also poses serious risks to motorists and the residents of the informal settlement along that road. This road sees a lot of heavy-duty vehicles travelling on it.
Q: What message do you have to the residents in the areas you serve?
A: Thank you for your support at the recent local government elections 2016 and I’m truly humbled and honoured to be your servant. I’m a man of action, because I believe that actions speak louder than words. I commit to serve the residents of Ward 33 to the very best of my ability and to always be accessible and visible in the community.
Q: How can residents get hold of you?
A: I can be reached on 083 607 5724 or my personal email (temporary) ashoods@gmail.com. I can also be followed on Twitter and Facebook.
