Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2016-08-08

As we whisk through the aftermath of the most highly anticipated Local Government Elections in the country, the final results late on Saturday night show that South Africa’s political landscape has been fundamentally altered, with the governing party’s share of the vote falling from 62% to 54%.

In Lenasia, Democratic Alliance Ward Councillor Kishore Badal won ward nine and the African National Congess’s Joseph Matjila and Ezekiel Tsotetsi captured wards eight and ten.

Speaking exclusively to Radio Islam on Sabahul Muslim earlier this morning, the three elected ward councillor’s were given a chance to outline their respective plans moving forward.

The ANC’s Ezekiel Tsotetsi says he is extremely humbled to have been elected as the councillor of ward eight.

“I am grateful to the people of ward eight for putting the ANC first and electing me as councillor, I will serve all the people with honesty and respect.”

Newly elected DA ward councillor Kishore Badal says he is extremely pleased with the results but adds there’s still a lot of work to be done.

“Although we retained the ward and won it by a landslide margin. We know that ward eight and ten does not belong to the DA, but we will work harder to ensure everyone is sought after in Lenasia.”

ANC Ward councillor Joseph Matjila says he was confident he would retain the ward.

“It was challenging in the build up going to the polls, people didn’t turn in up in their number, especially around ward ten, but we are happy to have pulled through.”

Tsotsetsi says the next step is to meet with all the respective stakeholders and other ward councillors to ensure everyone is on the same page.

“We need to work out how we move forward, by working together we can identify the needs of the people.”

He says the ANC have already compiled a consolidated formal report highlighting the needs of the Lenasia area.

Badal says the requirements and needs in ward nine are very different compared to those of ward eight and ten.

He says the issue with regards to smart meters is a budding issue affecting most ‘Lenasians’ and this will be sorted out as top priority.

“While the meters have been installed, people who have received it has been experiencing enormous bills and we need to deal with that.”

 Badal adds that the environment in Lenasia and surrounding areas has recently been deteriorating profusely, which is why they will be kick starting a cleanup campaign.

“We are going to be meeting Pikitup in particular to see how quickly we can resolve the issue.”

The ANC’s Joseph Matjila says the issue relating to the “Taxi Learner Exchange Facility” which was to be built on Nirvana Drive opposite the Nurul-Islam Masjid will be looked in to as a matter of urgency.

“We will be hearing from the court after they make a decision, and then we will need to attend to the concerns from community members, after that process, that’s when we will be able to make a final decision.”

He says they will also be focusing on the relocation of informal settlements and job creation with a prime focus on youth.

The elected councillors say it is important to have all structures in place in order to communicate with the community in order to move forward.

Social media pages and blogs will also be created in order to make the communication process easily accessible.