MAIMANE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE COMMUNITY

Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane was campaigning in the rural areas of Mpumalanga province, under Dr. JS Moroka municipality in Nkangala district yesterday on the 9th of June 2017. His first foot was in Nokaneng, a small rural place near Marapyane where he went house to house speaking to community members about their challenges and daily struggles. And later met with community stakeholders that included the tribal council, farmers and pastors, he ended up his campaign in another rural place named Kajiban near Seabe where he met with the community. Democratic alliance activists came up in numbers to welcome their leader on his very first visit in the municipality; they chanted songs praising him as the next president and called off the Zuma’s government. The campaign is set to the 2019 elections.

The challenges that were raised by the stakeholders include water shortage, youth unemployment, no street lights, drug abuse and many other daily hiccups which the community leaders says, they have tried numerous times to communicate to the municipality to no assistance. Tribal (Moshate) leader of Nokaneng said, “It is painful to look as the leader, the community using one tap water to access water, no roads, and young people dying of drug abuse because there are no libraries, sports ground for extra mural activities”. And there was also Mrs. Mpe who mentioned that “a lot of old people in the community are not safe, because they are left alone with grandchildren of whom they can’t help with school activities. Old people are raped and abused while left alone at homes with grand children to care for, while their children went to Gauteng for job opportunities”. Mrs. Mpe requested Maimane to assist her to build up a forum that would help the elderly people.

Mmusi said, he would write a letter to the municipality to ask questions of service delivery and also raise the stakeholder’s outcry in Parliament where he would demand answers from the ruling government, on the promises they made and never delivered. He also advised the stakeholders to vote for change in 2019 because that’s only then the DA could be of assistance to them. Mmusi further said he would be dedicating the 2019 June 16 to young people who are drug addicts. The provincial DA Chairperson Jane Sithole who was also in the stakeholders meeting said there’s only one rehabilitation centre in Mpumalanga province of which is one that was built by the apartheid government, and the waiting period to get into the particular rehab is 80 days.

“Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and Joshua completed the task of leading the Israelite into the Promised Land”, said Mmusi. He tapped into the bible scriptures saying the DA would pick up from where the previous leaders, former president Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki left. He said President Jacob Zuma is a thief and has gotten South Africa into a lot of mess. He was speaking at Kajiban where he was opened for by Pastor Constable from around the area whom praised Mmusi and prophesied that he would be the next president. The pastor won himself a jacket from Mmusi that he was wearing on his visit. James Masango, Jane Sithole, Henro Msiza Kruger, PR councillors were amongst the council that accompanied Mmusi Maimane on the #Change19Tour in Mpumalanga province.

By Dineo Mothwa