Mayor is offering a revival of TCLM
She is well aware that there are several service delivery issues that need to be addressed.
LYDENBURG – “If more women are in leadership roles, we’ll stop assuming they shouldn’t be.
Twords from Sheryl Sandberg have never been more true than when Cllr Fridah Nkadimeng was elected unopposed as the executive mayor of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM).
Steelburger/Lydenburg News caught up with a busy Nkadimeng to talk about her recent appointment as mayor.
“I was born in Sabie on October 30, 1961. From there we moved to Ga Motodi in Burgersfort where I attended primary school. I completed matric in 1980 and studied at Dr CN Pathudi College, where I obtained my primary school teacher’s diploma.” Nkadimeng taught at Mampuru School in Steelpoort.
From there she moved to Lydenburg with her husband, Frans Mkadimeng. “I taught at Marembane High School where I was later appointed as the head of department, acting principal and eventually principal.”
In 2014 she was deployed to Parliament to serve in the portfolio committee for education, community service and human settlement. “My term at parliament finished earlier this year, whereafter I joined TCLM as the executive mayor.”
Politics has been her passion since she joined the ANC in 1991. Nkadimeng is well aware of the challenges facing her as the new woman in the hot seat.
“In TCLM, a key concern remains the Eskom account. It is dreadful. As we speak this account stands at R580 million. We have to go back to the community for public participation in order for them to agree on installing the smart, tamper-proof meters to ensure that all residents pay rates and taxes. This in turn, will ensure that the budget is viable in order to deliver on service delivery.”
Her training as a teacher also means that the youth are a key priority. “We need to address youth unemployment. We have to review the database to establish how many youth are unemployed and introduce learnership programmes.”
She is well aware that there are several service delivery issues that need to be addressed. “These include the sewerage systems, the shortage of water, electricity overloading and the roads. There are a lot of tasks at hand.”
Nkadimeng made it a priority to meet with all relevant stakeholders, including the Lydenburg/Mashishing Business Chamber, the various mine houses, the taxi association as well as each and every municipal worker.
“Without stability, nothing will be achieved. We have to continue to pay our rates and taxes, eliminate the breach of electricity and create revenue.”
Away from the politics, this remarkable woman is a mother of four and grandmother of 11. Her own mom is still alive and well at the age of 92.
Nkadimeng confirmed that a open relationship will be established between the newspaper and TCLM in order to keep residents abreast of all happenings in and around the region.
