Durban — Ward 34 residents were introduced to their councillor candidates ahead of the local by-elections. All candidates were said to have prioritised tackling service delivery and making their community a better place.
Ward 34 is one of the biggest wards in eThekwini, comprising Kenville, Sea Cow Lake, Greenwood Park, Effingham, Redhill, and Avoca.
The town hall meeting took place at Effingham Secondary School Hall on Saturday.
Independent candidate Andrew Akkers, who is also the chairperson of the Ward 34 Ratepayers and Residents Association (RRA), said he aims to use his experience of having led numerous initiatives to improve local infrastructure, enhance safety, and foster community spirit/ubuntu.
Akkers said he has promoted transparency by ensuring open communication between eThewini Metro and the community and has forged relationships with the various department heads and teams.
He said his involvement in the community spans decades; having started his transport business in 1991 to address local public transport issues experienced by residents of Ward 34; and having worked in security management for 24 years.
“I’ve been actively engaged with the Community Policing Forum and Neighbourhood Watch, and I’ve supported our community through various crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 floods, and riots,” Akkers said.
He added that when Durban was faced with the July 2021 riots, he was part of the team that fought the political party and business owners who blocked residents from accessing shops in Durban North. He said he was part of the planning team and actively stood guard and patrolled the area.
“I was also actively involved in the sourcing and distribution logistics of social relief parcels during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Akkers said.
As chairperson of the RRA, Akkers led the merger with Avoca, Effingham, and Red Hill to form the Ward 34 RRA where his efforts have focused on improving local infrastructure, safety, and transparency.
He said he initiated databases for fault tracking and ensured equitable distribution of resources.
“I’m a third-generation Ward 34 resident, and my personal experiences shape my understanding of our community’s needs. I’m married, with three children and a grandchild, and I bring a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to making Ward 34 a better place for all,” Akkers said.
African Movement Congress’ candidate Pastor Khulekani Dlamini, who has been a Sea Cow Lake resident since 1998, said his manifesto focused on crime, service delivery, informal settlement issues and economic development issues.
Dlamini hopes for both the formal and informal communities to work together to combat and address crime, and this is to be done through Community Policing Forums in all areas in ward 34.
“Street patrols is something that we need to implement and the increasing number of mobile police stations, especially in areas like Sea Cow Lake, Effingham and Kenville,” Dlamini said.
To tackle service delivery issues, Dlamini said he’d try to get a hold of various municipal officials and ensure regular communication whether it is for water or electricity. He added that he will work extremely closely with his ward committee to fast-track issues.
The candidates list comprises Akkers (Independent), Thembi Khuzwayo (MKP), Pastor Khulekani Dlamini (African Movement Congress), Jerald Rughunath (DA), and Mashini City Nkosi (ANC).
The DA and ANC did not pitch but the ANC sent an apology.
The by-election takes place on August 28.
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Daily News