Municipality spokesperson speaks out about political power
'We have people fiercely fighting for leadership and political power, and this troubles me.'
The statement West Rand District municipality spokesperson Dennis Mangope released on Thursday may ruffle some feathers.
Mangope feels that members of community organisations tend to prioritise their own selfish interests at the expense of residents and have failed to represent the interests of those they are supposed to serve.
He also expressed his concern about community and political activists having “lost a sense of their true existence”.
“During the struggle, we had community structures and leaders who were very committed and accountable to their communities. This was under the brutal system of the apartheid oppression.
“But nowadays we have people who are fighting fiercely for leadership and political power just for self-enrichment. They forget that people died for this freedom and could not taste its benefits.
“I have analysed this and in all honesty, we are a danger to this freedom. We must fight to protect it for the sake of our future generations.
“As leaders in our own right and responsible citizens, we need to confront the rot happening within our own systems and organisations without fear or favour, and defend our hard-won freedom,” says Mangope.
