ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says the party will act decisively to remove councillors who tarnish its image. He also urged residents to call out incompetent councillors, without fear. Ramaphosa met ANC supporters in KwaNdengezi, Umlazi and KwaNyusa in the eThekwini Municipality.
Earlier in the weekend, he engaged with party members on the province’s South Coast on concerns around the selection of candidates.
Ramaphosa was well-received on the second day on the campaign trail in KwaZulu-Natal. The escalating crime rate, unemployment and incompetent councillors are among the many concerns raised by Umlazi residents.
The latest quarterly crime statistics reveal that the Umlazi police station ranks third in the country for the most cases of murder.
Resident Thulani Khumalo shares some of the main concerns that he wants to be addressed.
“Since growing up we have been promised things now we’re adults but we don’t see any change because even where we are standing we were promised a mall up until now there is no indication it will be built. There are no police stations in Umlazi, we all go to one police station. So we’re asking Ramaphosa to change things including this issue of councillors even the monies that have been misused. Our wish is for Ramaphosa to change our lives as he’s coming here, he should see what we’re complaining about.”
Resident Nkazimulo Mvuna had similar concerns around the conduct of councillors, the provision of water and the collection of refuse.
“The community is not happy, the first thing we’re not happy about is our houses. The councillors do not respect the people. Secondly, these councillors no longer live in this area so we don’t know if we need help where we’ll find it because when you go to the councillor’s house there are other people staying there. We end up not getting help. Another thing is the dirt in the streets and the refuse not being collected and they’re always fighting. We have a problem with this on and off water and electricity supply in our area. We need a change in this area.”
In KwaNdengezi, Ward 12 in the eThekwini Municipality, in the 2016 local government election, the ANC secured just over 61% of the vote. Over 17 000 people are registered to vote here. Just 32% of people in this community are employed. Residents here called on Ramaphosa to unite the party by resolving issues within pockets of disunity.
“I ask for unity with this party. It is because of the ANC that we are free today, they must make sure that they don’t destroy the party. The only thing that will help this party perform better is unity.”
Throughout his visit to the province, Ramaphosa reiterated that the party was committed to a government free of corruption, urging residents to call out such government officials.
“That comrades these people have chosen you because they have trust and confidence in you and they believe that you are going to work for them and not for yourselves and not to line your own pockets and not to go and advance your own interests.”
ANC vows to remove corrupt councillors:
Earlier in the weekend, at Folweni south of Durban, Ramaphosa responded to calls from aggrieved ANC members over the candidate selection process, saying that the party would look into this after the local government elections.
Ramaphosa will continue with his election campaign trail on Monday in Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
He will conduct door to door campaign and address the residents of Greenpoint and Galeshewe. Residents are frustrated with their continuous squalor conditions. They say getting basic services like water, sanitation and houses are a daily struggle and the Sol Plaatje municipality officials are nowhere to be found.
They say it’s a matter of out of sight and out of mind.
