Like many residents, I have also been following the political chess match that has been taking place in the Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM). If you would have asked me a few years ago I would have told you politics are boring. But these past few weeks have proven that it is anything but.
Sitting in the special council meeting on Tuesday, April 25 waiting to find out who our new leaders are, I watched each councillor closely and what I saw made me sad.
For years, we, the people of Mogale City have been struggling. Struggling to get pipes fixed, get our municipal accounts sorted out, find the licensing department open, register our children or replace our IDs, get electricity, fix potholes, cut grass, get street lights turned off during the day, get the police to help us when we are in need, get the homeless off the street but also somewhere where they can be safe, have places for our children to play, get water meters fixed, get public safety to do their job and the list goes on and on…
Also read: Meet the new mayor of Mogale City: Danny Thupane
Every week, I get calls from the community and every call is different but the problem is still the same. They need help and the municipality is not helping.
What I saw in that council meeting made me understand why we are struggling. The past few weeks were purely about political moves. From getting rid of 40 councillors to complaining because there is one chair and table short for a councillor to sit at. Names are being spelled wrong, and councillors complaining because others are allowed to walk around while they must sit and check their ballots to make sure there is no tampering. Political parties changing their allegiances. All political schoolyard play.
Also read: Load-shedding: Mogale mayor to make ground-breaking announcement
It made me wonder where we fit in. We (the people) who pay for the services, (the people) sit with the mess they can not fix because someone made a joke and did not say it was a joke.
Then there are the people complaining about what has happened. I have no sympathy. You were asked to vote in the municipal elections, if you do not like what happened now maybe braai a little bit later next time and take the 30 minutes to make your mark.
As for all the councillors, I would like to say, we do not care. We do not care who cuts the grass or fixes the potholes. We just care that it gets done. We care that we are rendered the services we pay for. That we, your people are looked after. That is your job. Please remember us going forward. We do not sit in your council meetings, we do not have a say about your political antics but you are our voices, and we would like you to advocate for us.
And that is how we will make Mogale great again.
