Dalene Maharaj, ActionSA candidate for Ward 89, answers a few questions regarding the upcoming local government elections.
Q. What would you do differently to the current ward councillor?
A. As ‘Actionairs’, we believe in an action that moves South Africa forward. Our focus is to move away from broken promises, corruption and failed Government, to one of service delivery, ethical government and progress. In this way we will instil confidence and integrity back in all South Africans. I will publish my contact details so that every resident can contact me as their public representative. I will give monthly reports to all the residents and have quarterly public meetings at which the residents can interact with me. Mine will be a public servant approach.
Q. How have you been involved in the community?
A. I have never dreamed that I would ever be involved in politics, never mind availing myself to serve my community as a public representative. However, I had taken example as set by Herman Mashaba, to step up to the plate and get involved in saving our city and South Africa. For over a year now, I had been involved in this new movement called ActionSA, being active on the ground, reaching out to voters and the public at large, irrespective of colour, culture, and creed. We have engaged with informal settlements, retirement villages and in other communities in the Roodepoort area, and listened to the challenges that South Africans are faced with daily.
Q. What past experiences make you uniquely qualified for this role?
A. As an educator, I can communicate effectively on all levels and I am always proactive in my work. I am a results-orientated person naturally and believe in a fair and democratic society. I have always been a champion of the downtrodden, marginalised and voiceless.
Q. What is your vision for your ward?
A. I believe in high standards of service delivery. I believe that the residents are the customers of a municipality, and all must be treated in a professional manner with dignity and respect. We as ActionSA will reform our municipalities by only appointing persons who are ethical and who are committed to public service. I believe that the public service should be professionalised. I will ensure that our Ward’s priorities are included in every Integrated Development Plan process embarked upon by the City, and ensure that these plans are included in the budget developed as informed by the IDP process. Thereafter I will monitor the implementation thereof, in the interest of all my constituents.
Q. How do you feel this vision can be achieved?
A. I believe in the cultivation and encouragement of an environment of team players who collectively put their ideas into action. If I am elected by the residents of my Ward, I will include their views and encourage their participation in ensuring we can change our environment for the better.
Q. How does your party mirror your personal beliefs?
A. ActionSA is against corruption, incompetence, lack of service delivery, poor leadership, racialism, social injustice, lawlessness and poor economic prosperity. These are values I personally subscribe to.
Q. Tell the residents of your ward why they should vote for you.
A. “Let us not seek to fix the blame of the past; rather work together as one to fix the future.” This is my motto. I would have an open-door policy supporting community initiatives. I will be a hands-on councillor, accessible to my constituents. I will be a servant leader.
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