Tyrone Gray is the fresh-faced, youthful local politician who has big plans for the Democratic Alliance in Mogale City. He was just a teenager when he realised that his heart was in politics, and when he turned 18 he joined the Democratic Alliance.
Having attended Monument Primary and Krugersdorp High School (KHS), Tyrone always had a soft spot for the town and its people. When the time came to step into the adult world, he spent a year in Australia, broadening his horizons. Ultimately, he longed for his homeland.
Upon returning, Tyrone attended Wits University where he studied BCom Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He completed the Economics part but not the Politics part. “I did the Politics major and now I’m waiting for accreditation. I’m busy studying BA Criminology; I’m third year now so I’ll be done next year.”
Tyrone became a DA Mogale City branch 21 member and was later elected as a councillor in 2016. The next year he became the party’s local Chief Whip whose responsibility is to assist the party in administration, coordination, delegation, liaison and various other activities.
On Tuesday afternoon, September 7 Solly Msimanga, DA Gauteng Leader said during their official mayoral candidate announcement at the Khosa Sports Club that the 32-year-old Tyrone would be their main man at the Mogale City poles during the local government election of which the date is to be announced soon.
Tyrone explained that if the DA wins the majority during the elections and he takes office, there is quite a bit that he would want to change within the first 18 months, mainly focusing on what he sees as municipal structural and financial issues.
As part of his bid to the DA committee to be considered for the position, he gave a presentation before Solly, Helen Zille and other provincial and national DA members, pointing out three major issues in and around Krugersdorp.
“I identified the IT system in general, which includes finances as well as the billing issues. The other is the water reticulation system, for instance Kenmare still has the original pipes. They keep failing and they can be without water for six months. The third issue is the developmental backlogs. The Smart City that the president wants to build in Lanseria can’t be unlocked if Lindley Wastewater isn’t online, because you need sewerage in order to build anything. Currently there isn’t bulk infrastructure to unlock that development,” Tyrone explained.
“In the first 12 to 18 months, the main focus on stabilising the finances. We [MCLM] are paying interest on the overdraft, and on Rand Water and Eskom arrears, meaning that R14 million is wasted on interest every year,” Tyrone claimed. “At the end of the day, the residents pay the interest. I want to clear the overdraft.”
Tyrone and the rest of the DA councillors will be on the campaigning trail daily, excluding Sundays, from now until election day.
