Councillor tackles her challengers
Cllr Miya sat down for an exclusive interview with the Newcastle Advertiser to talk about developments in her ward over the past few years.
Councillor Simphiwe Miya believes some obstacles faced in her ward are the result of people challenging her as a woman, trying to prove she cannot handle being a ward councillor.
She is on a mission to prove otherwise. While she has dedicated her time to facilitating programmes to help the residents of Ward 19, despite the challenges she has encountered along the way, Cllr Miya sat down for an exclusive interview with the Newcastle Advertiser to talk about developments in her ward over the past few years.
Roads projects:
“We started the Pedestrian Sidewalk Project last year, where the public would have their own safe designated area to walk. They would be kept out of harm’s way to prevent them from getting knocked over by a car. That project is now complete and was funded by the municipality.”
Currently, Cllr Miya is working on the MF55 road in Madadeni, Section 6. The project still requires road materials, as delivery was delayed due to the rain and flooding.
“It is an estimated R13-million project funded by the municipality, with the contractor being Njengamanje Construction. It is a good project because it also created employment for local road construction workers.”
She said there are another two roads in Section 7 which are gravel and have been leveled.
“There is no current budget for a tar road development.”
Housing and electricity projects:
In 2017, Cllr Miya’s team was instrumental in installing electricity in more than 1 000 households in the H39 Section.
“There were 923 houses built in the ward, with some already occupied, while others are almost done but need roofing and windows to be installed. Last year we also improved the sewage and water infrastructure in the H39 Section. We are 98 per cent done.”
She added that 10 government houses in that area now have taps, whereas community members used to collect water at one communal tap. “About 25 are almost done with the upgrade,” she confirmed.
Community projects:
“In October 2017, we held an event for the elderly citizens in the ward and gave them food hampers, blankets and walking sticks. We worked with different ward committees and Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) on that project.”
Leading to elections, in the first week of each month Cllr Miya plans to embark on the Thuma Mina Project and fix water leaks in the ward and maintain dump sites.
“I have a huge problem with the community with regards to illegal dumping.
“Residents in some areas don’t use the big dump bin allocated; instead they litter next to the bin. We are trying to educate the community on how to keep their environment and living areas clean.”
Cllr Miya has also helped families struggling with funeral costs, and recently did a burial for a Section 6 family who could not afford a coffin for their loved one.
“As councillors, we have a mandate to help where we can, as much as we can.”
Her biggest pride is another project where garden tools were handed out to residents in the ward. We called it the
“One home, one garden project”, where we encourage community members to have gardens in their yards and plant vegetables.
“We emphasise healthy eating and living. This is a project that is also under the Operation Sukuma Sakhe umbrella.”
Challenges:
“We have had some challenges with building and repairing road infrastructure. Because of constant rains that hit Newcastle recently, some projects have had to be put on hold and then started again after the rain.”
Another huge problem was some residents who wanted to occupy land illegally and build informal shacks in the H39 area.
“These people are deliberately trying to make my work difficult, but I have a strategy to handle that. There were individuals who took people’s money, up to R10 000, promising that they were allowed to occupy that area, and the worst thing is that they are putting them on wet land. These houses and shacks ended up flooding, and I still have to be the one who helps them. I believe some people want to challenge me because they don’t think a woman can handle this job, but I will prove them wrong.”
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