#IMadeMyMark: Kempton’s ANC candidates answer our question

As part of its role to inform our readers, Express publicly invited the ward candidates in the relevant wards to answer one question: Which service delivery problem in your ward (area), which hinders the rebuilding of the ward’s local economy, will you address first and how?

The ANC’s candidates responded as follows:

Ward 13 Bulelwa Ngqwangi:

“Businesses located within Ward13 are mostly operating in the informal sector of the economy, which involves largely small businesses.

“The most important thing I shall prioritise will be the provision of support to small businesses in the ward. 

This will be done through the establishment of dedicated informal traders stalls in areas where these businesses are located as this will ensure the development responds to the business developmental needs within their target market.

“Another area of priority is to ensure locals reoccupy the spazashop sector that is dominated by foreign nationals. 

This is a sector which used to employ a lot of unskilled labour within our localities and deserves to be prioritised in there igniting of our local economy.”

Ward 15 Carla Wood:

“One of the service delivery problems is the old Kempton Hospital on Elgin Road that has been closed since December 26, 1996, which has caused a lot of trouble for the elderly and those who needed medical assistance. They need to travel to Thembisa or Edenvale, as those are the closest hospitals around us, as well as our local clinic that does not store a lot of the chronic medication. 

This is why my first project would be to open the Kempton Hospital, as this would createjobs and provide our ward with theproper services they deserve.” 

Ward 91 Nomonde Ndlovu:

“Local economic development is among many concepts of local authorities that seek to redress issues of unemployment, poverty and inequality within the local government space.

“There are many hindrances in relation to achieving a prospective local economy.

“At the heart of this problem is the non-linkages between small, medium and micro enterprises(SMMEs) with big businesses. In order to fight the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality, a government policy or act must be introduced to formalise the working relationship between these two economies.

“An intersection between these two will assist greatly in achieving local economic development.

“Moreover, full packaged support for SMMEs will greatly assist local economic development. Assistance in terms of grants will go a long way in achieving a harmonious local economic development.”

Ward 16 Phomzele Mthimkhulu:

“There are various challenges faced by the residents of the ward and other stakeholders that result in serious lack of local economic growth. As black people in Ward 16 we feel marginalised.

“The current DA leadership turns a blind eye to challenges faced by black South Africans. We don’t own our streets, as the thugs operate as they please on a daily basis with all sorts of illegal activities.

“Prostitution, drug dealers, hijacked buildings and pubs illegally operating are some of the issues experienced in the ward.

“Renovating the collapsed park facilities is part of the solutions webring to Ward 16. Given an opportunity to run the ward, these changes will be realised to boost the local economy.”