Priya Ranchod's Journal: ANC continues to rule most parts of Soweto

On 1 November the people of South Africa had the opportunity to vote for who they believe would make a difference in the community and parts of Soweto has been won again by African National Congress (ANC) party and their councillors will lead the different respective wards they in.

Soweto Times took an opportunity to interview some of the Ward Councillors.

Ward 10 Councillor Nokuthula Nofemela and Ward 29 Brenda Dammie and Ward 130 Thulani Colson Buthelezi:

ST: How do you feel you won?

BD: I must say I am humbled and thanks to the voters of Ward 29 for giving me another opportunity to continue to serve them and trusting me.

NN: I am excited and looking forward to being part of the leaders that will adhere to principle of good Governance, and fight against corruption and nepotism. I am also looking forward to ensuring that we build a smart and innovative community that will transform lives.

TB: To be frank I am not that happy but humbled by the support from community who did not have electricity for over five months. My victory and excitement will be celebrated on the day these communities get their lights on,

ST: What are the changes you intend to make?

BD: My intentions is to continue working with Community and all Stakeholders an accelerate in Service delivery and I want to empower community on how to report services delivery challenges. My priority is to form different structures within my communities Committee, Forums, NPOs and NGOs, and to assist in improving the community.

NN: Protecting the environment and keeping the ward clean. Ensure constant communication that will encourage community participation through quarterly community meetings. Ensuring police visibility in the ward to fight crime, drugs, and substance abuse.

TB: My very first approach will be to empower our community by educating them on the importance of paying their primary services to hold their power back from government. Drugs and substance abuse is killing our young people and wrecking homes. Encourage young people to further their studies to better their lives

ST: What are the current issues you been facing?

BD: Eskom, Billing system, High Unemployment rate, drugs, crime, and Gender Based Violence.

NN: Maintenance of storm water drains, potholes, cleanliness, streetlights due to cable theft. Electricity, challenge of community that does not pay for services, high crime rate and gangsterism, substance abuse and high unemployment rate.

TB: Crime, Poor service delivery and communities without electricity for the past 7 months, Disunity to our community, crime, drugs, Substance abuse, families sharing small yards and unemployment. Lack of infrastructure developments that will explore other sporting codes that might keep our young ones occupied.

ST: What is your message to young people?

BD: Young people must prioritize education, get skills, and be empowered. Also, to be more involved in artisan and community Forums

NN: We need to invest in our future through studies, establishment of businesses. It is time for young people to say "it's enough" to substance abuse and being involved in criminal activities. Let us be a community that will contribute to economic growth and make use of opportunities provided for by funders.

TB: Let’s go to school, school, and school. Our government is giving free education up to the tertiary institution. They need to be active citizens and never expect things to fall from the sky because there’s a lot of opportunities that the Government offers such as co-operatives, recently the COJ declared that their primary focus will be to empower co-operatives and women in business.

ST: How does drugs, and alcohol affect the community?

BD: Drugs and alcohol is a major problem in the community most of children are orphans and drop out from school, marriages are broken and Youth resorting to crime due to drugs and alcohol.

NN: The consumption of drugs and alcohol impacts on a high crime rate, women and children abuse and increase the high rate of unemployment. Mostly it is destroying the potential we have within our communities, in terms of building future leaders.

TB: Drugs are finishing the future of our country and the funny part is that the police are aware of all these shenanigans, but nothing gets done with the suppliers. In some areas suppliers spends the whole day and half of the night giving drugs to these young people. It’s a real shame when you look at the failure we are witnessing as Leaders in the area.

ST: What has been your challenge with our current virus - Covid-19?

BD: Most of the people have lost their jobs, it has created more poverty and distress into families.

NN: It has robbed us our loved ones, as a result most children are orphans, some forced to be parents at a very young age. Our fellow brothers, sisters and parents lost their jobs, their businesses suffered a loss which some could not re-build their businesses. We have orphans that we have to look after as community leaders, I am pleading with our community to get vaccinated so we can curb the spread of the virus and protect one another.

TB: The only challenge I should indicate is that some of our people still don’t believe the intervention by the government is true, don’t believe that Pandemic exist, why should they be injected.

ST: What is your number that people can get hold of you on?

BD: 0832404639

NN: 067 076 7482

TB: 079 400 5436