Ciska Jordaan has the community of Govan Mbeki municipal area at heart

HIGHVELD – Born in Trichardt and raised in Secunda, Ms Ciska Jordaan is a well-known and familiar face to many locals.

She is wife to Mr Jonathan Jordaan and one of six siblings. Although most of her family is scattered around the country and even the world, they remain very close.

Ms Jordaan went to Laerskool Goedehoop and attended Hoërskool Oosterland, but finished her high schooling at Dhahran High School in Saudi Arabia when she moved over with her family. She returned to South Africa in 2010 and studied further at the University of Pretoria where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Physiology, Philosophy and French.

Ms Jordaan also obtained her Honours degree in counselling psychology and has a post graduate certificate in education. She is currently pursuing a BA degree in political leadership and citizenship.

“It is all about discipline and dedication,” said Ms Jordaan.

Politics is not something that was in the vision for Ms Jordaan earlier in her life, although it does fit into what she wants to do in her life now.

“I have always found myself serving and interacting with people and I try very hard to be able to help people in whichever way I can. Throughout high school and university I was always actively volunteering with organisations. Growing up we were always encouraged by our parents to study hard, do well and do something important with our lives. My parents always wanted better for us in comparison to what they had.”

Ms Jordaan thought her life would be set after graduating from university, but that wasn’t case. She was unemployed for several months and returned to Secunda after studying.

“It was in 2014 when my good and dear friend Mr Pierre Bosch approached me to help with some of his activities while he was campaigning for the by-election as Ward 30 councillor.”

This is where her love for politics began.

“I can’t allow myself to be one of those people who complains and never does anything. We can complain about the state of our country and our municipal area, but the only thing we can do about it is to become involved, even if it means picking up papers in the street, engaging with our communities or making your mark on a ballot paper, this is literally the only way we can make a change.

“It is up to all of us to try and change the minds of others, to encourage others to do something and to become involved in the community.”

In Ms Jordaan’s spare time she enjoys being in the company of her family and close friends as well as reading the occasional book when she doesn’t have such a busy schedule.

Nearly seven years into the political world, Ms Jordaan is now in the running for the position of deputy chairperson of the DA in Mpumalanga. The Mpumalanga congress takes place on 10 October.

“It is a huge privilege to be in the running, I am honoured to be receiving a lot of support since the announcement of my candidacy from councillors and activists throughout the province. It is going to be an interesting change.

“Community involvement is something we don’t emphasise enough amongst younger people. For the younger generation who want to pursue politics in the future I would say go for it, be open to things. Life happens, things don’t always work out the way we planned it would, just go with it and make the best of it, sometimes it turns out even better than you thought it would.”

She went on saying that she does what she does because she has a need to ensure that whatever she has to offer to her community, town or country, she can make a difference.

“The DA gives me the platform to expand my horizons and enjoy every challenge along the way, a chance to contribute to something bigger than what I am under the banner of a party I wholeheartedly believe in,” ended Ms Jordaan.