Ward 110 committee member ‘MaSithole’ has a lot of love to go around
MIDRAND – She started an NGO to feed disadvantaged children and the elderly.
Many in her community fondly call her MaSithole and children relate to her as the mother who has provided meals for them over the years.
Elizabeth Sithole is a Ward 110 committee member for the infrastructure services portfolio.
She has been involved in her community, Mayibuye, both politically and at a social level. She said her first experience working with her community was in 2000 when she was elected as chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation.
Three years later she established Khaya Project, a non-government organisation which provided food for children in the area after school and also provided toys and clothes at Christmas with the assistance of local donors.
“I used to sell food at Maphutha Secondary School and I noticed that a lot of children were from disadvantaged homes and didn’t have food to eat after school. I decided to start the organisation because I love serving the community,” she said.
Sithole said she grew up in a political family and both her parents were activists in the ANC. “The role of my parents in politics taught me to be selfless and work for others. The community loves me and I love them.”
Although she understands the socio-economic dynamics of her ward, the biggest challenge she faces in her portfolio of work has been the attitude of community members towards paying for certain services.
She cited an incident where the community turned violent and held City Power officials hostage after they tried to replace electrical meter boxes.
“Many households have connected electricity illegally which becomes a burden on the infrastructure which leads to transformers tripping. When City Power officials came to change meter boxes in the households, the community were up in arms. I urged them to allow these officials to do their work in order for the municipality to render services.”
The mother of eight believes that the community needs to work together to address other social challenges.
Other challenges included the backlog of sewage and water infrastructure. “We have too many backyard dwellers which has led to overpopulation. You find one yard accommodating about 20 people which puts a strain on infrastructure and results in burst pipes.”
The mother of eight believes that the community needs to work together to address other social challenges. “As a mother, it pains me to see the escalating drug use and teenage pregnancy. We have to come together as a community to find solutions.”
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