ICityzn Masterminds aim to curate council and municipal relationships

The recent ICityzn Masterminds meeting saw positivity and excitement take centre stage.
Members discussed their progress within the community and an ‘abundance mindset’.
The goal of ICityzn is to build a collaborative platform, from which to engage with the municipality as well as the community, in order to uplift residents and create a better town for all.
Larish Dookhilal from AbaQulusi Municipality’s Town Planning Department also attended the meeting.
He provided the group with helpful information, to assist in its goal of reaching out to councillors and municipal stakeholders and advised ICityzn members on the correct and most effective way to do so.
With each member discussing their respective projects, a general sense of accomplishment was said to sweep the room.
Several of these projects are complete or nearly finished.
Pastor Ferdinand van Niekerk stated, “We can’t just huddle together. We must move forward. There are lots of small projects coming together and that must continue. We must be excited.”
He went on to explain the ‘Repair, Plant, Paint, Clean and Connect’ (RPPCC) concept, a simple method to uplift the community which ‘everyone can get on board with’.
“Negativity is destructive within a community,” he explained. “We must build relationships with municipalities to move forward. We cannot go on productively without creating relationships with our local councillors, as well as all NGOs and leaders of our communities. But by law, we must work through and with AbaQulusi Municipality.”
Dookhilal, at this point, suggested engaging with the Speaker of Council (Michael Khumalo) and the acting Mayor (Mncedisi Maphisa) to lay the foundation for a strong and constructive future relationship between ICityzn and the municipality.
As the meeting concluded, Kerryn Powell requested each member share their feelings with a single word or a simple phrase.
These responses were inspiring:
Ferdinand van Niekerk – ‘let us build’
Larish Dookhilal – ‘optimistic’
Rhoda Limburgh – ‘we need each other, so let’s stand together’
Lizwe Mchunu – ‘ideas becoming reality’
Powell then concluded with the profound question: “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?”

ALSO READ: Vryheiders partner for growth at iCityzn breakfast

Make sure you follow us on our social media platforms for regular updates