Questions on ward leaders
MORE transparency in the nomination process for ward committees was called for by residents attending a meeting at the Babs Madlakane Hall in Kwa-Nobuhle last night.
More than 200 residents from wards 45, 46 and 47 attended the ward committee meeting and listened attentively despite early tensions which threatened to bring the gathering to a premature end.
Residents said ward committee members needed to be chosen by the community.
The meeting was chaired by municipal ward committee administrator Monwabisi Matshoba and included councillors Siphiwo Plaatjies [Ward 45] and Lindelwa Qukubani [Ward 46], and mayoral committee member for public accounts Lance Grootboom.
Ward 46 resident Themba Xhula said another issue which needed to be addressed was the fact that meetings in KwaNobuhle were not chaired by a councillor from the area.
“It is becoming a tradition [with] municipal activities that certain trends are ignored,” he said. “Why is it that if a function is in Ward 46, a councillor from PE must lead the meeting?
“It’s like going to your own house and someone else answers the door and introduces himself.”
Simphiwe Mahani, of Ward 47, asked why ANC supporters threatened KwaNobuhle residents with violence when they did not get their way.
“People of the ANC must stop threatening our meetings with violence. We don’t want any more violence here, those days are behind us,” Mahani said.