To enable our community to make an informed decision at the polls on November 1, the Herald invited candidates of all the parties to tell us more about themselves.
This time we introduce the prospective ward councillors for the African National Congress (ANC) who will be contesting the 2021 local government elections in Rand West City on November 1.
1. Name: Amanda Sityebi aged 41
2. Ward: 2
3. Areas that fall under the ward: Westonaria and Borwa section.
4. What have you done during your time in office?
“When I relocated from Ward 30 to Ward 26, I managed to stabilise the ward by engaging the community and addressed their concerns. I’ve helped young people in construction with CK registrations, women to start sewing projects and a community garden.”
5. What are you going to do differently? If you are elected what would you focus on and why? Why should the community vote for you?
There are approved community projects I have to follow up on, (e.g new/ extension under construction, a technical college that needs to be built). I will also try to put more focus on the issue of youth unemployment.”
7. Outside of local council duties, how are you involved in the community?
“I am active in all the community structures like the school governing body (SBG), faith-based organisation, and a member of the Community Policing Forum (CPF).”
1. Name: Nontombi Molatlhegi aged 42
2. Ward: 27
3. Areas that fall under the ward: Simunye Extension 1 and 5
4. What have you done during your time in office?
“I ensured that communication lines between the community and the councillor were always open. I also ensured that indigent families are registered for assistance by the municipality. I’ve always attended to community service delivery issues.”
5. What are you going to do differently? If you are elected what would you focus on and why? Why should the community vote for you?
“I will try to ensure a quick response to service delivery matters.”
6. Outside of your council duties how are you involved in the community?
“I am involved in community formations like the church and burial societies.”
7. What past experiences make you uniquely qualified for this role?
“I’ve been a councillor for the past two terms and a community activist from a very young age, and I am aware of the issues facing my community.”
1. Name: Anele Saba aged 33
2. Ward: 25
3. Areas that fall under the ward: Libanon, Venterspost and Vleikop
4. What have you done during your time in office?
“I’ve improved a working relationship with organised labour and managed to have working relation with Sibanye-Stillwater as one of the headgear communities. I’ve also managed to better communication in the community and got council to improve some affairs as well.
“I’ve initiated programmes that assist less privileged families such as distributing school shoes and sanitary towels, and brought social cohesion and sporting events.”
5. What are you going to do differently? If you are elected what would you focus on and why? Why should the community vote for you?
“I’ll get more involved in the security cluster to combat crime activities.”
6. Outside of your council duties how are you involved in the community?
“I am also part of the Methodist Church in a number of activities.”
7. What past experiences make you uniquely qualified for this role?
“It is my community involvement: being a church member, soccer team that I am part of, Kaiser Chiefs branch organiser.”
1. Name: Anelisa Kolo aged 33
2. Ward: Ward 29
3. Areas that fall under the ward: Holomisa and Spooktown (Bekkersdal)
4. New councillor? What will you do during your time in office?
“I will be the eyes and ears of the community and try to engage with them on a daily basis according to their needs. I will represent my ward in all engagements. By representing I mean investigating community concerns and responding to their queries immediately.”
5. What are you going to do differently? If you are elected what would you focus on and why? Why should the community vote for you?
“Take action and make wise decisions which can lead to making difference for the benefit of the community.”
6. Outside of your council duties how are you involved in the community?
“I am very proactive in my community, I support the community when there are sport activities by taking part. I take part in cleaning campaigns organised, I follow youth programmes and am part of the events that are initiated, I help in advertising for businesses, for example brand launching and purchasing.”
7. What past experiences make you uniquely qualified for this role?
“I’m well aware of how to handle crisis. I can organise and make an event successful. I have patience and skill on what strategy to use to win people’s hearts. I have more than ten years volunteering in my ward. I know the needs and goals to make my ward successful. I can handle the pressure and control the crowd when needed.”
1. Name: Mkhuseli Jokazi aged 46
2. Ward: 23
3. Areas that fall under the ward: Glenharvie, Kloof Hostel, Kloof single quarters, Mountain View, surrounding farms
4. What have you done during your time in office?
“I’ve created a relationship with Regenesys Business School; as a result we have more than 50 students who graduated at Regenesys without paying any amount, and we are still waiting for other bursaries for 250 students to study the career of their choice at Regenesys that will start soon.”
5. What are you going to do differently? If you are elected what would you focus on and why? Why should the community vote for you?
“I was able to connect with 159 young people to be part of a Cadetship programme, they are now permanent employees of Sibanye. I also managed to create the opportunity for about 46 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to have access to land.”
6. Outside of your council duties how are you involved in the community?
“I’m a farmer and former mine worker, and the area that I’m a councillor in is a mining area. Most of the people who are staying there are mine workers, and I convince them to join farming. As a results we own 4 800 cows that we sell to the community when they have funerals and other ceremonies. We sell not only in Ward 23 but to the West Rand as whole.”
7. What past experiences make you uniquely qualified for this role?
“I’m a former mine worker; former surveyor supervising and working with management; former chairperson of education; former chairperson of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM); I’m a Public Management graduate, I have experience in the local government sphere and I’m a team player. I know how to work as a collective and how to handle different people.”
