THOBANI DLAMINI
DURBAN - Sakhile Mngadi, 27, of the DA is set to become the new ward councillor for the Bulwer, Glenwood and Umbilo areas in Durban.
Mngadi’s councillorship comes after a landslide victory in all the six voting districts of ward 33.
He said the area he has been elected in was no different to the broader South African community whose needs were receiving municipal services and not bickering about issues of race.
Mngadi will also be the second openly gay ward councillor in the city of eThekwini after Martin Meyer, which inspired him to form the Safe Space for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“The previous DA council created safe spaces for individuals who are victims of hate crime. Putting pressure on the police to do their job is something that I called for in our congress last year, which was emotionality supported by myself and Mbali Ntuli, where we successfully passed a resolution to have a special Investigative unit particularly aimed at addressing hate crimes and queer crimes in every police station in the country, because what they find is that the police aren't capable of dealing with this because of even their own biases,” said Mngadi.
He said his experience as a public representative (PR) councillor at Ward 11 Newlands, will aid him in his next chapter of public service in the city of eThekwini.
“During the campaign, it was made to be about race. But I think that just fell away. Because I think the general issues that everyone, irrespective of their race, who lives in this community was concerned about was service delivery and the lack thereof, and what essentially is crumbling. Things like grass cutting, tree felling, potholes, roads, street lights that make it unsafe, those were the issues that mattered to residents.”
The party’s provincial chairperson, Dean Macpherson, said he was elated for the party’s and Mngadi’s success in the ward as well as in the city at large.
“I could not be more proud of Sakhile’s victory. He is one of our rising stars. The stunning wins that we have seen across eThekwini, taking nine wards off the ANC, is testament to our strategic ward-based approach in winning them. Retaining our wards and bringing the ANC under 50% in the city is the icing on the cake for us.”
Glenwood resident Lauren Fontaine said the main concerns for the community are basic services, which the previous administration neglected or rejected for years.
“Lots of our roads have been out for a year and a half. We have numerous calls and reference numbers, but nothing ever happened. Things such as DSW and other basic service delivery are the main issues in our area, but with the new council in place, although it will take time, we hope (Mngadi) can address those issues while in office.”
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