A by-election is set to take place on Wednesday 8 February following the resignation of Helen Jacobs late last year.
Several political parties will be contesting the by-election according to News24.
These include the Patriotic Alliance, the GOOD party, the EFF and Al Jama-ah.
Leslie Swartz, chair of the Kensington Factreton Residents and Ratepayers Association (KFRRA), says they expect the new ward councillor to hold municipality accountable and to give regular feedback and report on council and civic matters.
“This is to ensure that priority needs of our community are met by ensuring that we enjoy effective and efficient service delivery. To ensure that service delivery will be timeous, quality assured, equitable and sustainable. To ensure that our ward does not become a perceived dumpsite for the challenges facing the city. We want to see all communities share proportionately in the challenges the entire city faces.”
Faiek Fredericks, a committee member of the Maitland Ratepayers and Residents Association (MRRA), says the area faces many social ills that should be addressed.
“Changes we’d like to see in the ward is slumlords, dumping and selling of drugs to be tackled. The new ward councillor must work with the ratepayer’s association, have a vision to improve our area and have regular report back meetings to address issues.”
With just weeks to the polls the DA in the province might lose a crucial sub-council post after the party missed the Independent Electoral Commission’s deadline to submit a candidate for the by-election.
Christopher Fry, DA Ithemba Constituency Head, says: “There was an internal party process that we couldn’t complete in time that meant that we failed to submit the nomination form for the candidate in time. The party is still working out as to what our next step will be, but it doesn’t look like we will be able to fill the candidate for the upcoming by election.”
Dan Plato, the DA’s Cape Town metro regional chairperson, told News24 that the party was investigating ways to resolve the matter.
Political parties who are contesting the by-election says they are ready to lead. People’s Post spoke some of the candidate councillors.
Kevin Inglis from GOOD party says addressing the housing issues and the refugee tent in Voortrekker Road are some of the immediate issues he would address.
“Our people should vote for me because I am a resident, I know my community and I have a footprint of +30 years. I have been involved in many projects both personally and through collaborations with organizations focusing on youth, food relief, animal welfare, education, social development, sport, and schooling issues with children. I support all parts of the community and not a select few and put people before politics with honesty and integrity.”
He adds that the GOOD Party believes that with its focus on truth, trust, and service delivery it will restore the dignity of their communities.
“We encourage our people to participate in their upliftment and together create opportunities they would like to see happen. GOOD will use public land for the public good – for housing, redress, and growth – not for profit.
Cheslyn Steenberg, from the Patriotic Alliance, says: “My immediate actions will be the refugee tent in Voortrekker Road – I will be taking the matter up legally via the courts to force the national government to act and act swiftly, including the UNHRC, coupled with that is the securing of the land in question so that no further expansion of informal settlement(s) takes place.”
Steenberg says he is ready to serve his community.
“Win or lose. Under my leadership – young people will have a sure hope, seniors will have a caring public servant, our children will have safe spaces to play, crime will be tackled head on, service delivery will be the order of the day and the people of ward 56 will be put first above all else.”
Al Jama-ah’s Mogammat Mogadien Samodien says concerns he will tackle in the ward include unemployment, quality education and the lack of recreational facilities.
“Al Jama-ah does not make promises to communities but rather identify the challenges and implement strategies for transformation. Education will be our key driver for positive change. A personal development programme which includes a virtual education programme will be established to address the low standard of education and the shortage of classrooms. To address the unemployment rate, we are offering immediate assistance to SMMEs and invite them to apply for the Point-of-Sale (POS) system.”
He adds: “The POS system costs about R650 and a monthly fee which the party offers free to its members.
“Assistance will be given to aspiring entrepreneurs to apply for new micro business loans of which some are full grants and others are hybrid grant benefits of which half must be repaid.”
Read the original article here: News24 | 17 January 2022 | Author: Kaylynne Bantom