Parties given a second chance
THE by-election for ward 13 in Umzinto has given candidates a second chance at winning.
The ward comprises Hazelwood, Riverside Park, a portion of the CBD, and the informal settlements of NPA, Msholozi and Sanathan.
Saleem Mahomed, the candidate for the DA, has vowed to put residents first.
“Residents have trusted the DA to get things done. I will continue giving 200% of my time to the community to improve service delivery.”
Mahomed said he planned to deal with the water-shedding problem by the Ugu District Municipality, fasttrack the transfer of houses to residents from Riverside Park, and clean up the town to attract investment.
Councillor Muhammad Asghar Khan, from the Al Jama-ah party, currently serves as a full-time member on the community services portfolio and municipal public accounts committee (MPAC) in the Umdoni Municipality.
Khan said the residents of ward 13 have a chance that does not come around too often.
"Soon after the November 1 elections, the residents clearly saw that they had made a mistake after the elected councillor changed party. Al Jama-ah provides a solution to the challenges experienced in the ward. We don't merely give lip service to service delivery. We deliver.
“The residents of Riverside Park must be given title deeds to ensure their dignity is in their hands. Residents of informal settlements must be allocated homes, and as a municipality we must ensure that phase two of the slums clearance is prioritised.
"We will secure budgets and ensure that proper oversight takes place over projects that will deliver good roads and stormwater. Al Jama-ah believes that the water crisis in Umzinto requires proactive solutions and not a makeshift solution of water rotation. We will use innovative public or private partnerships to bring relief to the community.
“We will also prioritise SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises) in the area and assist to bring the programmes of government to them.
Mhlengi Radebe, the candidate for the EFF, said if elected as a councillor he would address the issue of poverty.
“There are hundreds of families living in informal settlements in Umzinto. They don't have access to water, electricity and toilets. They live in poverty because they cannot find jobs. I will use my platform as a councillor to address these issues and try to get proper housing for families.”
Radebe, who is from the Sanathan informal settlement, joined the EFF three years ago. He was previously a member of the ANC and a community activist.
Roy Bhoola, the leader of the Allied Movement 4 Change (AM4C), said: “The party stands for truth and prompt solutions to address service delivery. We will tackle the issues of safety and security and will work to eliminate corruption. We want to come up with support plans for poor families, and we want adequate housing for those living in informal settlements. Use your vote wisely. This will impact your life until the next election.”
Bhoola has served the community for 40 years.