By Akani Nkuna
ActionSA has unveiled mayoral candidates for Rustenburg, Greater Taung and Ramotshere Moiloa in North West, promising improved municipal services, stronger financial management and support for local economic development.
The party announced the candidates at an event in Mmabatho on Wednesday ahead of the local government elections scheduled for 4 November.
Egorogile Matolong, ActionSA’s candidate for Greater Taung Local Municipality, said his vision centred on reconstruction, renewal and building a more resilient municipality.
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He committed to prioritising vulnerable residents affected by the rising cost of living and said the municipality should broaden its revenue base to improve service delivery.
“We must optimise the allocation from Treasury to ensure that our resources reach those who need them most… it is our duty to ensure that citizens who rely on state support are included and that the system is fair and just for all,” Matolong said.
“[We must] revitalise our economy and optimise our minimal revenue streams. We have to look at where are the possible revenue streams. We will work tirelessly to widen our income streams. We will recognise the business environment in our town, ensuring that local and village economy is restored to the local residents of Taung.”
Matolong also vowed to address the employment of undocumented foreign nationals by businesses operating in the municipality through intergovernmental operations aimed at ensuring compliance with immigration and labour laws.
He said Greater Taung did not have an abundance of resources and that its success would depend on how prudently the municipality managed its finances and available assets.
Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality candidate, Lerato Selebogo, previously served as the municipality’s mayor under the ANC.
She called on ActionSA to pursue a governing majority in the council when voters go to the polls.
Selebogo said her previous experience as mayor was “difficult”, adding she was unable to effect meaningful change because of a lack of consensus among the parties represented in the council.
She encouraged party agents and volunteers to intensify door-to-door campaigning to attract more voters and strengthen ActionSA’s influence in the municipality.
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“As Ramotshere municipality we need 15 seats, because if we get one or two councillors, we are not in majority [and] decisions are taken whether good or wrong. As long we are not majority, [our influence will be tamed],” Selebogo said.
ActionSA’s Rustenburg Local Municipality mayoral candidate, Ofentse Kombe, said the municipality was suffering from “chronic” electricity and water supply challenges and that he would prioritise interventions aimed at stabilising services.
Kombe said some of the problems resulted from ageing infrastructure, incomplete projects and the appointment of unsuitable contractors. He also blamed a lack of political will under the municipality’s current ANC-led administration.
He said that, should he be elected mayor by the municipal council, his first 100 days in office would include investigations into the water and electricity networks.
“We need to commission a forensic investigation into the water supply line and into the electricity supply infrastructure, so that we can see where have people illegally tapped into our water network and into our electricity network,” Kombe said.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba instructed the candidates to prioritise South African citizens, particularly residents of the municipalities in which they were standing.
“When you provide government services like housing, public schools… you must run them exclusively for South Africans. [Foreigners] who come and live here, let them…provide their own school and housing,” Mashaba said.
The country’s laws guarantees children access to basic education regardless of their nationality or immigration status. Government housing subsidies, however, are generally restricted to South African citizens and permanent residents.
