MEC encourages community to sustain itself
SOCIAL Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi yesterday encouraged Kuyga residents to become involved in projects to sustain their community.
Sihlwayi’s visit – at the Kuyga community hall – comes just a week before the by-election in that ward, and three days after the DA and ANC were caught in a fiery face-off for territory in the same hall.
Sihlwayi said the government had chosen Kuyga because of its high crime rate which was the result of poverty, drugs and alcohol abuse.
She was quick to dismiss suggestions she was campaigning ahead of the by- election, saying she was in the area to encourage community projects.
She did, however, say the ANC had the right to campaign.
“In the next five years we want to do away with poverty in this province. We are here to help you build a sustainable community. I came here with my purse but I was disappointed when I heard there are no community projects like gardening, poultry and piggeries,” she said.
“People have big yards they can use for gardening. For us to help the community you need to meet the government halfway. I will go back with my purse because you are not in the new South Africa to develop yourselves, instead you are waiting for the government to do everything for you.”
Sihlwayi also urged women and the youth to be at the centre of developing the area.
“There is huge drug and alcohol abuse which leads to domestic violence, orphaned kids and a high rate of divorce. We want to build strong families.
“At the same time, we want to protect old people who are bullied by their grandchildren to use their grant money to buy them furniture. That has to come to an end,” she said.
Resident Elizabeth Mazantsi, 60, said they were happy about Sihlwayi’s visit.
“There is a lot of crime in this area because kids are using drugs. We hope the gardening projects will help us a lot. Most of the people here are unemployed and I believe these projects the MEC spoke about will bring a lot of changes in our area,” she said.
Nonkie Plaatjie, 31, said she hoped the MEC would deal with the issues of parents who misused children’s government grant.
“I have never thought about starting my own business but seeing the MEC is keen to help us financially if we have our own projects, I will also think of something to do that will put food on our table,” Plaatjie said.
Sihlwayi said she would return to the area in two weeks and hopefully launch a gardening project then.