Residents tired of being voting fodder
ALEXANDRA - Former residents of Alexandra who have made it to high leadership positions have been urged not to let the trappings of power make them abandon the township.
Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association, Zone 13’s chairperson, Victor Rambo Mkhize, has urged former Alex residents who have made it to top leadership positions not to abandon the township when falling into the trap of power and money.
They have also been advised to always respect where they came from after they relocate to affluent areas. This as residents, relatives and acquaintances they leave behind expect to benefit from their benevolence or ability to help improve the townships’ condition.
“Referring to the adage, be good to people you meet on your way up as they will be the same to you when you meet on the way down,” said Mkhize.
“Leaders with roots in Alex should always regard themselves as the face and reflection of the community. They should prove this through regularly coming to the township to engage with residents so they remain in touch with issues, concerns and to gain the trust of residents.”
This, he added, was particularly important at this time of serious social and economic hardships when youths are struggling to acquire jobs, and crime, health, housing and other service delivery issues are of concern to residents.
“The absence of the leaders who were elected into positions of power by residents creates the impression that they are untouchable and only appear [during] election time and disappear thereafter, leaving the residents feeling used as voting fodder. People do not forget how they are treated,” he said.
Mkhize added that residents were also no longer keen on imbizos, or gatherings, which they regard as bringing empty promises or just food packs. “They want substantive deliverables with time frames such as the implementation of bylaws to control overcrowding, monitoring and screening of housing allocations, the elimination of crime hotspots, employment creation and economic empowerment.”
He stressed that they also have awoken to the machinations of some leaders who exploit the culture of toyi-toyiing to promote their personal interests.
“The residents are now able to question such leaders… [about] concrete reasons for protests before they are mobilised to take part,” he concluded.
