The African National Congress (ANC) in the greater Alex constituency will contribute its share of youth councillors if they win the local government elections on 3 August.
This after the party nominated 24-year-old Kwanda Malgas for the Greater Alexandra Ward 32 which includes Buccleuch, Greenstone, Linbro Park, Klipfontein, Waterval and Modderfontein.
Other youths are said to also have been nominated for other wards.
Malgas, the party’s Albert Luthuli branch secretary, is currently studying for his second degree in public administration and governance at the University of South Africa (Unisa) after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in economics and business studies from Fort Hare University.
“I am humbled by the nomination and am bracing myself for the challenge. The two areas of study relate well to the expectations of public duty and responsibility. Coupled with my age, evidence of the party’s commitment to having youths in governance leadership positions, youth vibrancy and radical approach to issues, I and other young councillors will hopefully inject new thinking, approaches and drive that will help speed up structural, social and economic transformation, and change and development in the material conditions of the majority of residents,” Malgas said.
He added that he would draw from his governance studies to explore ways of helping to cut the red tape and expedite service delivery. This in a ward with a population which has increased exponentially, but without the corresponding services to attend to their basic needs such as a clinic for health services, a police station to attend to rising crime, and a library and recreational facilities to keep children busy and engaged productively to limit their temptation to anti-social activities such as substance abuse and sexual activities leading to teenage pregnancies and HIV infections.
“The ward has many dust roads making it sometimes difficult for ambulances and fire services to deliver urgent and essential help to the residents,” he said. Malgas added that he wants to combat the crime and alcohol abuse by many children who spend time in taverns due to a lack of recreational facilities.
He said he wants to consolidate and continue with his party’s development trajectory of restoring people’s dignity through sustainable development. This through partnerships to fast track service delivery by City Council entities often accused of delaying the implementation of programmes.
“We will have to reactivate or establish appropriate structures to support and monitor service delivery, hasten activities of youth-oriented programmes to help them know about the services at their disposal, and to expose them to accredited online education programmes and employment opportunities,” he said.
Malgas added that he also expects to see a convergence of the young and old in the leadership and an application of radical approaches to transformation to limit dissatisfaction by the public.
