Cape Town - While not completely satisfied with his tenure as councillor for Kraaifontein’s ward 6, outgoing ANC councillor Simpiwe Nonkeziyama says he did his best to uplift his ward despite working under the authority of the opposition party.
Nonkeziyama, who has been a councillor in Kraaifontein for two consecutive terms since 2011, said he would not be running again come November 1 because he believed it was time to hand over the reins to someone new who would continue to work for the greater good.
He said that despite the current issues affecting his ward and various communities in Kraaifontein, he had done his part to the best of his ability in working to ensure that the communities he was responsible for were developed, provided with essential services and well taken care of.
Nonkeziyama said: “Unfortunately, I could not accomplish everything I had set out to do when I got into office. The plan was to work for the people with our party in power and not the opposition party.
“However, that wasn’t the case, both times I was a councillor. However, despite that, I worked very hard to uplift and develop the areas that I was responsible for.
“We ran and completed some great projects over the years. I remember when I first got into the office, there was very little development in terms of housing, and during my time over 1 000 families received homes.
“There was also no taxi rank in Kraaifontein at the time and now there is a beautiful rank. I remember lobbying for these things and it feels good to have accomplished that much and more.
“However, that’s not to say I didn’t have challenges as well, despite consistent efforts to stamp them out. Like the sewerage issues, increasing crime, electricity theft and so forth. Some of these challenges are the result of many people moving to Kraaifontein, causing pressure on existing and outdated systems. I do hope that over time we will be able to deal with these issues for a better functioning and empowered community.”
Nonkeziyama said that one of the things he was sad to leave without seeing it come to life was an economic hub that he had been advocating for, for years. He said that the business hub was meant to create a centre for small businesses that would help drive the economy in Kraaifontein.
“The business centre was to be built in Wallacedene’s most central spot, on the corner of Boesak and Botfontein roads. It was to be a sustainable development that would work for years to come to give people the power to be in control of their economy.
“However, all hope is not lost with that idea and I finally found people willing to build on the container business hub I thought of and give it to the community.
“I couldn’t have achieved what I did without my team, so I would thank them and my community for affording me a chance to serve and the ANC for trusting me. My office staff and caretakers for always being there for me,” said Nonkeziyama.
nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za