Job creation will be my duty

Q: Tell us about yourself?

A: I love listening to citizens and have a penchant for bringing out patriotic enthusiasm. I am geared to bringing together people from different backgrounds. I am a writer, former journalist, a sports and entertainment aficionado, and a passionate person who is driven by progression. Madiba’s dreams of yesteryear still resonate with me.

Q: Why did you decide to stand for the elections?

A: Wards 16 and 19, including their service delivery issues and high levels of crime, need a person whose commitment will be executed with a versatile tact that is motivated by an evolution unique to them. I am that person and have a deft understanding that comes from being a reporter for many years, and from being a proportional representative councillor in the previous term. I want to show citizens that my concern will translate into visible action.

I want to get people to a state where they will say, “my councillor is making a continual difference” – my mantra.

I am a shy idealist, who, due to a rich imagination, sees utopia rise from this Covid-19 dystopian times we are grappling with.

Q: Why did you opt not to join an existing political party?

A: I have experienced how internal politics dampens a councillor’s ability to help citizens more effectively on a council level, on the ground and into further civic structures. To reiterate that as an independent candidate, I now have the freedom in how I help people.

Q: What do you hope to achieve if you are in government?

A: The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here and with it opportunities to implement this technology with regards to lights, water, roads and sanitation, is a must.

Women’s rights and empowerment should be the preserve of everyone. It should be treated as a universal right.

Youth-guided and centred initiatives will make up the core. Our youth must be given priority now. Being an advocate for those affected by mental health conditions is close to my heart. As a person with epilepsy I am familiar with the depression and anxiety that we feel. Job creation will be my duty. Our economy, our democracy and way of life depend on a robust local economy. Feeding into the consciousness shift of sourcing as much as we can locally (as in from KwaDukuza) is my main focus.

Q: Give three adjectives that best describe your character and what you stand for?

A: Intelligent, incorruptible and proactive.