SUMMER JACOBS
Dunoon resident and EFF supporter Xolani Cekiso has aspirations of becoming the area’s new ward councillor.
The incumbent, Lubabalo Makeleni, has come under fire during the recent spate of protests in Dunoon, and many feel he hasn’t done enough to get the City to free up land for housing in the overcrowded township.
Last month, Dunoon’s EFF branch elected Mr Cekiso as a councillor candidate and community leader Zinziswa Mgwigwi as the proportional representative councillor candidate.
Mr Cekiso believes he will do a better job than Mr Makeleni.
“If the EFF wins Dunoon, we will make this a new Dunoon. We will make things right. The EFF councillor won’t only be for EFF supporters, he will work for everyone,” said Mr Cekiso.
Ms Mgwigwi said no one could ever be 100 percent ready when stepping into such a position, but she would do her best.
“You are never really ready for anything this big, but I am more than willing to do my duties,” said Ms Mgwigwi.
EFF regional deputy secretary Tlhabanelo Diholo said history was in the making as this was the first time the EFF was contesting local government elections.
“I am very excited and looking forward to the elections. At the moment, we are only concentrating on winning the positions of councillor and PR councillor,” said Mr Diholo.
He expressed full confidence in Mr Cekiso and Ms Mgwigwi.
“The work they’ve done in the area speaks for itself. The community trusts them. So far, they’ve gotten two eldery people’s houses back that were taken from them, and they are addressing issues in a dangerous section of Dunoon,” he said.
On Saturday April 30, EFF leader Julius Malema unveiled his municipal plans at the EFF’s manifesto launch in Soweto. He vowed to crack the whip on errant councillors.
“EFF councillors will be expected to be the mother/father figure to all orphans in the wards they serve. They will make sure that there is no one in their wards who goes to bed without a bed. They will also assist in the burial of all poor people in their area,” Mr Malema said.
EFF provincial spokesman Bernard Joseph said the EFF candidate list for the local government elections would be finalised towards the end of this month.