The newly formed Matlosana Service Delivery Movement has promised to clean up municipal governance and restore basic infrastructure if elected to office this November.
Speaking on the YOU FM Newshour election debate, the party’s mayoral candidate, Kgotso Sindi, told host Motlhaping Modise that putting residents first was their top priority.
He stressed that the movement’s campaign was built on a firm commitment to delivering quality, reliable and timely services to a community tired of systemic municipal failures.
“As a movement, we were formed last year due to the harsh material conditions we found ourselves living under.
“We have been led by a government that has not been serving the people, and the dignity of our communities has been dragged through the mud,” said Sindi.
Sindi further highlighted that service delivery was also at the top of the movement’s agenda.
“That is why we decided to come together, young and old, professionals alike, to say it is about time we took control of our municipality and ensured that services were properly rendered to our people.
“We are tired of political deployment. We no longer want to talk about politics; we want to talk about service delivery, and we want to discuss how our people can truly benefit from this democracy,” Sindi explained.
The mayoral candidate criticised the current municipal leadership, stopping just short of accusing it of corruption and maladministration.
“First and foremost, as a movement, we are aiming for clean governance.
“We are talking about zero tolerance for corruption, especially when we see what our country is currently going through, with various commissions of inquiry into corruption.
“We are advocating responsive service delivery, where we want to ensure that services are rendered promptly.
“Furthermore, we need infrastructure renewal. We know that our water pipes are old and worn out, and there is currently no plan to revitalise them.
“Ultimately, we want to revitalise our local economy to create much-needed jobs,” Sindi emphasised.
Meanwhile, speaking on the same programme, South African Communist Party (SACP) Provincial Secretary Smuts Matshe also weighed in on the debate, highlighting his party’s independent campaign strategy aimed at tackling corruption across the province’s 22 municipalities.
“We have six priorities.
“Firstly, it is about creating reliable public services and ensuring that the maintenance of public infrastructure is properly attended to, particularly when it comes to repairs.
“The second priority centres on decent work and sustainable livelihoods right where people live. Thirdly, we focus on providing land, homes and food to meet social needs rather than for profit.
“Fourthly, we want safe, caring and healthy communities where residents can return home safely and where neighbourhoods belong to everyone.
“The fifth priority is to establish municipalities that are tender-free, completely free from corruption and corporate capture.
“Our final priority is to ensure that we have councillors who answer directly to the people, creating municipalities where citizens have a real say. These are our core priorities heading into these elections,” Matshe explained.
He highlighted that the SACP operates as a grassroots party of the working class, acknowledging that it lacks the substantial financial backing and corporate machinery of larger political parties.
Instead, Matshe emphasised that the SACP’s entire campaign strategy relies directly on the mobilisation, dedication and volunteer support of its members.
“Unlike other political parties, we are a party of the working class and the poor, meaning we do not possess substantial financial resources or an extensive campaign infrastructure.
“Instead, our strength lies in our people.
“We will rely entirely on the unwavering support, dedication and active mobilisation of our members to drive our campaign on the ground,” the provincial secretary remarked.
Both parties left the door open to forming post-election coalitions with like-minded political organisations.
