ABOUT YOUR X… #LGEMakana2021
SmilingSouth invited ward candidates contesting the 2021 Local Government Elections in Makana Municipality to respond to three questions and provide their manifesto.
Parties/ entities, their abbreviations and links to their full manifestos (where applicable and available): African National Congress (ANC); African Transformation Movement (ATM); Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo); Democratic Alliance (DA); Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF); Independent (IND); Makana Citizens Front (MCF); Makana Independent New Deal (MIND); Patriotic Alliance (PA); Vryheidsfront-Plus (VFP).
The questions:
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government?
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years?
Candidates who haven’t responded are listed at the end. The order for each ward is alphabetical, according to surname.
WARD 14
READ RESPONSES FROM
Siyabonga Bashe, Economic Freedom Fighters
Theo Bruintjies, Democratic Alliance
Andrew Kirk, Makana Independent New Deal
Brendon Klaase, Patriotic Alliance
Nosicelo Mnana-Kolweni, Makana Citizens Front
Vuyani Nesi, Independent
RESPONSES NOT YET RECEIVED
Mkhuseli Antoni, African National Congress
WILL NOT BE RESPONDING
Deon Els, Vryheidsfront-Plus
SIYABONGA BASHE. EFF
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
* Community – Provision of essential services such as health and safety.
* Game reserves: To expand conservation and tourism
* Farmers: To improve infrastructure development and create viable agricultural projects that will further contribute to youth development.
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government?
* Community – health, clinic and ambulance , 24 hours service clinics, 24 hours service in Seven Fountains police station.
* Game reserves: more activities ties to attract tourists, townships and village Tours. This will help to put the community on the map and create more jobs.
* Farmers: make use of communal land, CPA make sure they distribute the land accordingly so that people can access to work the land especially the youth. Increase in education and more programs giving support to crèches, as well as the development of a green economy.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years?
The incoming EFF councillor will be available 24/7 to all stakeholders and the activities happening in the ward from planning to execution and sustainability e.g monthly meetings.
THEO BRUINTJIES, DA
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
* Build quality roads that can track investment into Alicedale because it’s tourism ward to boost the economy of the town
* Invest in municipal infrastructure
* Drinkable water in all our taps
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government?
* As part of budgeting process, develop an annual roads maintenance plan that clearly identifies and prioritize road for upgrades and repairs
* Establish a dialogue with rural communities to facilitate and implement rural road maintenance
* Ensure a rapid turnaround of pothole repairs :72 hours from reporting to repair
* Play to Alicedale’s strengths:
– Railway line through Alicedale
– Beyond Adventure
– 5 star hotels at Shamwari
– Pumba
Partnerships with them for job opportunities and a development programme to provide technical skills for unemployed youth.
* Identify problem areas eg sewers that overflow and make sure they get fixed.
* Create a dedicated team in Alicedale to fix streetlights and mast lights.
* Identify and prioritise dark areas.
* Ensure our municipal fleet is capable of doing its job eg [TLB], bakkie and tractors.
* Clamp down on cable theft.
* Ensure monthly water quality testing and public reporting.
* Implement a comprehensive water communication strategy.
* Roll out a rain harvesting strategy for all municipal buildings and RDP housing.
* Research and develop waste water recycling in Alicedale and other ward 14 areas for waste water treatment works.
* Engage with EC Provincial government to develop and implement a regional water master plan to alleviate drought and water shortages.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years?
* I will listen, action and report back on all issues to the residents
* We will establish a listening forum in each ward, where residents Wil have the opportunity to present their concerns
* We will also establish community communications groups to give municipal information
* Quarterly report back sessions Wil be held in ward 14
* We will make sure all municipal public participation processes are conducted lawfully
* The DA gets things done
ANDREW KIRK, MIND
MIND has a general plan/manifesto for the whole of Makana and specific plans/manifestos for individual wards. Each of the individual ward plans/manifestos is consistent with MIND’s overall plan/manifesto.
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
The issues affecting one ward are mostly the same issues affecting other wards but the biggest single problem of Makana is the dysfunctionality of the municipality in almost every aspect of its operations. That issue cuts across all wards and cannot be approached on a ward-by-ward basis hence MIND’s slogan: “Let’s fix Makana.”
Wards 1, 13 & 14 are predominantly rural wards each with an urban component where most of the voters are concentrated, namely Ward 1 (Riebeeck-East; Hooggenoeg); Ward 13 (Vukani); Ward 14 (Alicedale). MIND’s candidates, ADRIAN FEBRUARY (Ward 1) and ANDREW KIRK (Wards 13&14) have determined the following focus areas:
1. Rural safety and security (SAPS response times, cameras & crime prevention, stock theft & poaching); Environment (waste management, preservation of protected areas, road reserves & road maintenance); Infrastructure & amenities (access to water, health care & social work, electricity/alternative energy). Job creation is another priority identified by the candidates. The priorities for the urban areas within Wards 1, 13 & 14 are they same as those identified for the other urban wards in Makana.
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government?
Our municipality is effectively broken and it is questionable whether any of the mechanisms which ought to be available to councillors are presently available & working. That is why MIND’s first priority is to fix the municipality itself with a total overhaul of its operations and a staffing review to ensure competence and productivity.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years?
Each MIND candidate has a track-record of voluntary service to the community. They are also standing in their personal capacity and are directly accountable to you the voter. That is your best guarantee that they will do the job you have elected them to do.
BRENDON KLAASE, PA
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
* Housing
* Youth development and Job Creation
* Service Delivery
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government?
I will make 100% sure [I am familiar with] the mechanisms and platforms available, so I use them to the best of my ability and make sure issues are sorted out.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years?
First I will make sure that my number is available to the community for them to reach me at any time, then I will make sure i have a healthy relationship with the communities and involve them as I cannot do it on my own but “WE” can do it together. My belief is that there is no “I can do it”, but “WE” can do it.
NOSICELO MNANA-KOLWENI, MCF
1 What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
(a) Vacant buildings that should be utilised for youth centres, skills centres, internet cafes, such as Bushman Sands offices.
(b) Transparency on all projects, contracts and financial transactions
(c) Prioritise tarring road between Alicedale and Makhanda.
2 How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government?
* Writing a letter to Department of Labour for assistance in utilising the vacant buildings so that we can have, SASSA, Home Affairs, Dep of Labour. In that way I will be creating better employment for the youth of the community and the aged who have to travel bad roads and pay a lot of money just to receive services from those departments.
* Do investigation as to what happened to projects where millions were allocated and today none of those programmes are operational. Whoever is responsible for stealing the money that was meant for Alicedale development should account and take responsibility – in fact go and rot in jail.
* Call monthly meetings for the community so that we can work together so that there can be accountability in decision making and public ownership.
3 How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next 5 years?
* Set clear project objectives
* Election of ward committee should be beneficial to community
* Seek to understand before I am understood
* Lead with integrity
* Engage stakeholders and call in for regular meetings (effective communication)
VUYANI NESI, IND
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
Human Settlement, Water & Sanitation, Employment.
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government?
* Make sure that the municipality allocates land [and installs] infrastructure in order for Human Settlements to be able to build housing. Installation of boreholes for the underground water, because of the drought we are experiencing around the ward. Make sure that all the leaking taps and pipes are repaired at all times to save water. Blocked drains and sewers maintained to prevent health risks.
* Provide skills development to all people irrespective of gender, age & race in order to have a sustainable job opportunity & self employment. Establish cooperatives in different kind of fields like construction, farming, entrepreneurship etc, in order for them to have their own income
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years?
I will always make sure that I report to them about the progress made according to the issues of interest. Implementation & accountability is the most critical way of communication with the stake holders
MANIFESTO OF WARD 14 INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE VUYANI NESI
1.BASIC SERVICE DELIVERY (a) Water& Sanitation – Provide access to clean water for consumption to all – Water to be supplied to all households through the taps on daily basis – Community to be informed in advance when there is gonna be a disruption in supplying of water – An alternative arrangements be made in cases when water won’t be supplied through taps, such as water delivery truck fill up water tanks that are put in strategic areas so that residence get water at all times- Make sure that all the leaking taps & blocked drainages are fixed, to save water & prevent health risks (b) Refuse removal. – Collection of refuse material or rubbish be done at least once per week. -Provide refuse bags to all households. -Abolish all the illegal dumping sites & make sure that legal sites are cleaned at least once per month for the cleanness of the areas where we live. If there are changes in the schedule, community will be informed in advance. Make sure that the tools of trade like vehicles are available so that such things are attendet to.(c) Electricity -Electrify or installation of electricity to all households especially those newly built RDP houses.All informal settlement householdsin our ward have access to electricity. Highmoust lights & street lights are in good condition at all times to prevent criminal activites, that is to be able to identify wrong doings in our respective areas.
2 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT Renovations of pre & post 1994 damaged houses are attendet to. Identification of a land be pegged & infrastructured for the building of new RDP houses, since it has been more than 20 years the building of houses took place in the ward.
3 GRAVE YARDS An alternative land be provided for the burial of deceised persons, since some of the burial places declared full.
4 EMPLOYMENT Provide the residents with necessary skills of their interest like construction, hospitality, entrepreneurship, farming etc, in order to prepare them for job opportunities. Make sure that the hiring of beneficiaries in the EPWP & CWP program are fair to all community members to benefit. Form cooperatives for people to create jobs for themselves. Embark in discussion with private companies around our areas to give our people first priority when there are job opportunities ( especially in game reserves & hospitality industries)
5 COMMUNITY HALLS Renovations of both the Transriviere & KwaNonzwakazi halls are attendet to,since it has been a long time when they where toched by angry protesters of municipal services ( speed up the process)
6 NATIONAL ROAD Tarring of the Alicedale to Grahamstown road be made, since it was said that, it is the second phase to the Alicedale to Port Elizabeth route.
7 ESSENTIAL SERVICES All essential services are provided to the community at all times, like Ambulance & Fire departments. Form CPF( active) to assist SAPS in crime prevention.Labour, Social Development, Justice, Home Affairs, SASSA & other government departments visit our areas at least once per month.
8 MUNICIPAL VACANCIES Make sure that all the municipal vacancies are occupied especially those of the deceased persons.
9 SPORT & RECREATION Sport facilities are maintained & kept in good conditions so that young people embark on activities, to avoid drug abuse and criminal activities especially during week ends. Make sure that parks are safe for kids to play after school & security personnel are hired to gaurd against vandalism of the assets in playground.
MKHUSELI ANTONI, ANC
Response not yet received
DEON ELS, VFP
Has indicated he will not be responding.
SmilingSouth 
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