June 19, 2019 still conjures up a whole plethora of retrospective emotions for me – it was the date of the Ward 22 by-election. A whole 855 days as a public representative and just like that I’ve almost reached the end of my term.
Close to 11km of road surfaces have been rehabilitated in the last 2 years, both the Barrier Lane and Taffeni reservoir projects were handed over and the Salt Rock motor vehicle licencing office finally shut down to relocate to a more conducive environment.
Various community projects were rolled out, ensuring ad hoc employment for many young people in the ward.
Every day brings about new challenges, compounded by an unstable electricity network, erratic fleet services, inadequate housing and illegal land invasion, that create an ongoing crisis.
Ward councillors navigate more than residents may realise.
We are often blamed for a great deal that goes wrong – non-functional public lighting, collapsing roads, potholes, the list does go on.
The absolute gem was the comment in last week’s edition where a municipal spokesperson intimated that a collapsed road surface was the fault of local labour (nonexistent, might I add), not the paid contractor nor the official who signed off on the project!
So, who is responsible for repairing your potholes and your streetlights? The municipality.
Ward councillors are the conduit between the community and the municipality.
KwaDukuza certainly does have a handful of exceptional officials who are committed, visionary and display an exemplary work ethic.
There are unfortunately also many who are responsible for the dire situation our communities find themselves in.
Local government is ground zero, with municipalities being tasked with one role, which is to get the basics right.
Functional communities simply cannot be built on dysfunctional municipalities.
November 1, 2021 will be the litmus test for every South African who is concerned about our future, how our towns and cities are governed from November 2 will change the trajectory of the current sinking vessel.
On that note, I am very humbled that the party I represent has selected me to be the candidate for Ward 22.
You are my community, and I hope to continue our collective journey from November 2.
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