This ward (31) is made up of small villages like Ga-Mogopa, Boikhutsong, Klipgat, Swartplaas and Syferfontein. There is no police station in the area and there are no RDP houses. Their local clinics are short of staff and medication.

The executive mayor, Kgotso Khumalo spent four hours interacting with the community as they pleaded for assistance from the municipality.

‘Just as we assisted you by putting a cross next to your name, we would also like to be assisted’, said one woman in the audience.

Among the array of problems and challenges that were raised was the mining activities in the area without permission from, or financial benefit to, the community. Those present also lamented the high rate of unemployment, the need for title deeds to their land, the lack of proper sanitation and water and no electricity…the list just went on and on.

They were particularly concerned about their children who have no recreational parks, too few textbooks, no transport and no schools nearby. The learners attend schools in Ventersdorp, which is 20 kilometres from their community.

Another matter that was raised was the unfavourable conditions at the pensioners’ payout point.

The mayor who was accompanied by the ward councillor, Aleta Motladile, members of the mayoral committee and managers of NW405, assured those gathered there that the province had made R27 million available from the unspent funds from the Ditsobotla local municipality. From that, Khumalo said 340 VIP toilets would be built in Goedgevonden next month and locals would be hired to get the job done.

As far as the social grants situation is concerned, he promised to launch ‘Operation Dignity’ for the old folk, providing tents during the payouts and nurses on standby.

Khumalo said he would liaise with the company that is allegedly mining in the area. He said he would find out who had authorised the mining activity and ensure that local people are hired in the mines. He also wants some of the profits to benefit the community.

Khumalo undertook to provide RDP housing and urged the community to elect a communal property association (CPA) to manage their land.

Regarding the sports and recreation, the mayor said the community halls could be used for sports activities. For the benefit of those who may have been sceptical about all the promises, he assured that he would come and report back on the implementation of the undertakings. ‘In an effort to strengthen the voice of the public and democracy, we must always apply the Batho Pele principles and listen to the communities, not only during elections,’ he said.