Community gets a new chief

The community members of Extension 28 in Vosloorus were very excited about the introduction of their traditional leader.

Chief Godfrey Fanie of Ekuphumuleni Kraal was introduced to the community on Saturday, November 19 in the presence of the National Traditional Advisory Council (NTAC).

According to Goodwill Nyabaza, the national chairperson of the NTAC, all townships under Ekurhuleni will have their own chiefs.

“The municipality is establishing the Ekurhuleni Traditional Municipal Council (ETMC). The aim is to bring about the revival of chieftaincy within the municipality.

“We have been introducing chiefs to the communities since 2015, and we are going to do this until June 2017. By then we need to have at least 20 senior chiefs, 80 chiefs, 130 headmen and 600 members.

“This is not only happening here in Ekurhuleni; it is happening all over Gauteng. Johannesburg and Tshwane are also establishing their own Traditional Municipal Councils. Our future plan is to have a Gauteng Traditional Council (GTC) by 2021. Our own government wants this as well,” said Nyabaza.

Fanie spoke to Kathorus MAIL about his role as the chief of the community and promised to serve the community honestly.

“My duties to the community are as follows:

· Unite the community and make sure that they don’t oppress one another.

· Bring Ubuntu back to the community because people no longer care about one another.

· Work together with the government structures to bring service delivery to the community. I will report to the ward councillor. From there to the mayor. If there are no changes I will go to the provincial government as well.

· Make sure that the community lives peacefully and is safe from criminals. I will be working with the police, CPF and my own committee that I will appoint to make sure that there is peace and stability in the community.

· To fight hunger. I will be making sure that I liaise with the government to make sure that the community gets land to farm and that there are enough tractors to assist them with farming.

· Look after the elderly people within the community and all the community members who reside in my community. Everyone who stays in this community must register so that I will know the number of people living in my community.

· Help the unemployed youth. I will be registering them to the database so that they will get employment

· Help the heads of the houses with their house-related issues. Help where there is an inheritance dispute between the family members.

· Children with no ID, birth certificates and who have no child grant will also be helped through the chieftaincy.

· All organisations within the community must be registered, so that I will know who does what in the community, and find a way to assist those organisations.

“In doing all this I will be working with the committee that I will choose from withing my own community. These will be people who are trustworthy and capable of delivering services to the people. In order to be able to bring services to the people, I will be going door to door to companies who are willing to help this community,” said Fanie.

Fanie concluded by saying, in order to show that he is willing to offer the services to the community, he has already started offering services such as home-based care, a feeding scheme and sewing activities.

Aisher Fanie, the chief’s wife, said she has never been happier.

“To be trusted by the community like this and be given by them such a huge responsibility makes me happy because it shows that they trust us. People must not be afraid to come to the kraal to get help.

“My main duty is to support my husband at all costs and make sure that I help the community on his behalf if he is not here,” said Aisher.

Maria Bavuma from Ext 28 said, under Fanie, the community is in good hands. He is a born leader, with all the good leadership qualities to lead the community honestly.

“As for the opening of the kraal, I can say this is something that the community needed. It should have happened a long time ago,” said Bavuma.

Jabulile Sithole from Tongaat section said she knew Fanie and his family from the Bible study sessions. “They are such good people who are guided by the word of God in everything they do. This community is so lucky to have a leader like him. He is such an honest person,” said Sithole.

The location of Ekuphumuleni Kraal is at 231 Chitembo Street, Portion 48 Phase 1, Ext. 28, Vosloorus.