The Steve Tshwete Council’s only independent councillor, Reverend Thomas Mpye, has a loud voice, since he speaks for his entire Kwazamokuhle and Hendrina communities who elected him.

While he doesn’t speak often in council, due to his limited time as calculated by the number of seats a party holds, when he does speak, it’s always to the benefit of his community.

Since 2023, he has spearheaded Hendrina Community Participation Stakeholders, with the forum consisting of different community stakeholders of both Hendrina and Kwazamokuhle.

During several meetings, always held at Hendrina A.M.E Church, Mpye has always upheld that our neighbours to the southeast receive subpar services from the municipality, which is often highlighted by sewage pollution, as well as crippling water and electricity outages.

He has now launched a bid to register the Hendrina United Community Development-forum with the Independent Electoral Commission to open the door for fellow community activists to formally serve their constituents.

The aim is to bring the townships on equal development footing with Middelburg.

“Over 90% of administrative functions are done at the Steve Tshwete municipal offices, which often leaves Hendrina and Kwazamokuhle communities out of the loop with valuable information pertaining to service delivery,” Mpye said.

“So finally the Hendrina Participation Community Stakeholders have taken a decision to establish a community-based organisation, the Hendrina United Community Development-forum to contest the 2026 local government elections.”

This will ensure that Hendrina and Kwazamokuhle will have local representation in council, which Mpye said is currently fragmented and partisan.

The organisation’s leadership has been chosen and includes: Mpye as chairperson, Aaron Mkhwanazi as deputy chairperson, Karisa Mahlangu as secretary, Sphiwe Gininda as deputy secretary, Pastor Phillip Ndhlanzi as treasurer, Sibongile Kunene as organiser, and Obedience Malinga as deputy organiser.