Lebohang Maile, MEC, talks renewal in Tembisa

Gauteng MEC of human settlements Lebohang Maile. Image:Moeletsi Mabe

Gauteng MEC of human settlements Lebohang Maile. Image:Moeletsi Mabe

Published Aug 5, 2022

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SIYABONGA SITHOLE

Gauteng MEC of human settlements, urban planning and CoGTA and ANC head of elections, Lebohang Maile says the ANC does not exist for its own members but to solve people’s problems on the ground.

Maile was speaking during a community visit in Tembisa following this week’s violent protests. The protests erupted after members of the community complained about the high cost of electricity in the area resulting in the death of three people and damage of municipal buildings, infrastructure and a fleet of cars early this week.

In a video that is doing the rounds on social media, Maile can be heard speaking in isiZulu and dressing members of the community saying the time has come for the ANC to take charge of burning social issues affecting citizens of this country.

“People are complaining that the ANC, which is the people’s political organisation and loved by the people, is not present in the communities. So we want to change that from today, going forward. The ANC as the biggest political party must come to the people and serve the people. It must live within the communities. The ANC must be the party that people trust and see everyday. This means the party must be involved in the issues of the people in good and bad times,” he said.

Maile said this new ANC which is emerging, following the recent policy conference will have to change its negative image of being interested in coming to the communities only when it is campaigning for votes during election times.

“That is why last week Thursday, we hosted prayer days in the whole of Gauteng that is why today we have pastors and members from faith-based organisations and we are sending a message that the ANC does not exist for its members, but exists to solve the problems of our people. And what are the problems of our people? Our people are unemployed. Our people are hungry. Our people are facing criminals and crime everyday. Our people must dodge bullets everyday and are not safe in their houses. Our mothers and sisters cannot walk freely at night because they are scared of criminals and of being raped,” he said.

Maile says the ANC has vowed to help communities claim back their streets which he says are being ravaged by criminals and other unsavoury elements.

“That is why today, we say, let us reclaim our streets. Let us reclaim our communities and let us mobilise our people house by house, street by street, in the homes, in the buses, in the taxis and in the churches and everywhere, where our people are, the ANC must be found. The ANC must be seen, the ANC voice must be heard and the ANC must not speak without representing the problems and the voices of the people.

“That is why today, when we walk here, people are asking what is happening, because as comrades, we are not talking to our people" he said.

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