Meet ActionSA Ward 84 candidate, Esmie Liebenberg

Esmie Liebenberg, 39, ActionSA candidate for Ward 84, answers a few questions about the upcoming local government elections.

Q. What would you do differently to the current ward councillor?
A. I will be open and approachable to the residents of my ward. I found that this is something the residents want to see. Furthermore, I will be actively involved on the ground working with the community. ActionSA believes that the ward councillor must be accountable to the people of their ward and not to the party, and this is something that resonates with me personally. I found that people have lost confidence in their councillors and in the end in the municipality due to very little and sometimes no communication. I believe communication is key. I will have monthly electronic feedback reports to my constituents and where possible host quarterly public meetings to inform residents of what is going on in council that affects the ward, and get feedback as to what’s needed by the community. I believe in servant leadership.

Q. How have you been involved in the community?
A. I have been involved with service delivery issues in sections of the ward for about three or more years. I have been trying to assist my fellow residents as much as possible where I am capable to assist. I am also part of our CPF and a patroller in the suburb where I live. I collect clothes and stuff for the needy, and distribute them as needed within our community or in other communities as the need arises.
I never dreamed of becoming a councillor and to be a servant to the people until one day I was approached by a number of neighbours to pursue this calling. I am looking forward to becoming more involved in the community as time goes by.

Q. What past experiences make you uniquely qualified for this role?
A. I have no official experience in any municipal work. As stated in the above question, I have been involved in assisting residents with service delivery issues in the ward, and have been communicating with some of the entities directly. I am passionate about people and customer service. I love helping where I can do so. My concern for the future of my children has awoken in me an urgency to get involved, to bring about positive change in our beautiful country, which is fast failing.

Q. What is your vision for your ward?
A. I envision a ward and eventually a country where it is safe for children and women to freely walk the streets and play in parks. Where neighbours know each other and help each other. A ward where ubuntu prevails. A ward where the business areas are well looked after, the roads get fixed promptly and efficiently. A ward that is crime-free, well-served and clean.

Q. How do you feel this vision can be achieved?
A. I believe that in working together with residents we can achieve great things. I will need the community’s input and commitment to assist me not only to become their representative in council, but to change the ward for the better. These past few months working with the ActionSA teams on the ground have proven repeatedly that teamwork makes the dream work. We have to look for solutions instead of just being complacent.

Q. How does your party mirror your personal beliefs?
A. All the core values of the party mirror my beliefs in some way.
1. Ethical leadership and public service: South Africa is being held back by unethical leadership and unqualified public servants. I believe that the municipality should employ qualified public servants who can do the job correctly.
2. Rule of law: I believe that every person entering our country should abide by our country’s rules and regulations. No country can flourish and no economy can grow in a state of chaos.
3. Social justice: I see too many South Africans still live without access to quality education, basic services and proper housing. This must change and we will work together to make this change.
4. Non-racialism: South Africa must be a country where a person’s potential to thrive is based on their ingenuity and hard work, regardless of the colour of their skin. The B-BBEE policies have failed and we need to break the cycle of racial inequality by taking action to implement real and substantive policies aimed at improving equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome.
5. Economic prosperity: The best way to achieve broader participation in the economy is not through race-based policies that favour politically connected elites, but through improving the ease of doing business for entrepreneurs.
6. Quality education: Our education system I believe is failing our children. Our education system must teach critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills that will empower young people to be active participants in the economy.
7. Electoral reform: South Africans should have a direct say in electing their public representatives through a mixed electoral system that combines proportional representation with a constituency-based system.

Q. Tell the residents of your ward why they should vote for you.
A. I want to make a difference. I would have an open-door policy supporting community initiatives as well as any other issues raised by the community. I plan on being a hands-on councillor and accessible to the residents of the ward. ActionSA will not let you wait for five years to remove me if you are unhappy. You will be sent a yearly performance assessment form on which to critique my service to you. If I fail to meet the stringent assessment, I will gladly step down myself before ActionSA dismisses me, and let the residents choose a new councillor to serve them.