67 Minutes on Mandela Day

The Mayor of uMtshezi Municipality Bongani Dlamini celebrated 67 Minutes of Service Delivery with the Forderville, Colita and Papkuilsfontein senior citizens in honour of the late former President of the South Africa, Tata Nelson Mandela.

The Mayor honoured, in style, former Ward four Councillor Mr Bandu who fought for the removal of asbestos.  The Mayor said it gave him great pleasure to reflect on former President Nelson Mandela and so he took a conscious decision to celebrate this day with the senior citizens.

Mr Dlamini said that other social reasons made him organise the day with the aged and abused. The Mayor referred to the scripture, saying that children should respect their parents, so that they can live longer.

He said they are equally taking blame, as the municipality, for not having adequate sporting facilities to counter boredom. During his address, Mr Dlamini spoke about drug abuse as well as drug dealers living in the communities, urging locals to ‘go out and fight against drug abuse and criminals.’

Service delivery also came under the spotlight, when Mr Dlamini addressed concerns such as potholes and underground water pipes.He encouraged women to unite and deal with problems and refrain from turning to alcohol, like some men do.

The Mayor proposed that a forum of grandparents be established, which will meet at least every three months with the municipality to resolve their problems. In closing, he said there is a lot he learnt from the community, one being that that “power is within the people“.

His message to the senior citizens is that they must not lose hope. Blankets and scarves were given out to the older citizens and lunch was served.