By OBAKENG MAJE
Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) said it is ready to contest the 2021 Local Government Elections (LGE) and will now start to activate and mobilise voters to participate. F4SD president, Dr Mbahare Kekana outlined his party’s manifesto and also unveiled his party’s mayoral candidates for 2021 LGE in Zeerust on Wednesday.
“As F4SD, we are over the moon about the ground-breaking verdict of the ConCourt on the matter of postponement of the LGE. We are excited about the outcomes as it is in the interest of our community. This shows that the justice system of South Africa is at times, objective and fair.
“Through this victory, the F4SD has shown that we are a party that cares about the livelihood of the people in non-privileged communities. We are excited that our people will be able to go to the polls on 1 November 2021 and vote for change so that service delivery can be given to them on time,” Kekana said.
He said his party will contest elections in eight provinces except for Western Cape and urge the people of South Africa to give his party a chance by voting for it. Kekana added that as F4SD, they give assurance that people will get better services in those 61 municipalities and 358 wards they contesting.
“As when other political parties were quiet and willing to see you suffer longer due to non-service delivery, we are the party that stood up and was ready to stand for what we believed was right for the people on the ground.
“As you have seen from our victory against the IEC, F4SD is a party that lives by its pillars which are non-violence, electoral reform and grassroots democracy. We opposed the IEC’s bid to postpone the local government elections without any violence or malice. We stood firm for the electoral reform for the benefit of the grassroots democracy,” said Kekana.
He said F4SD is ready to serve the people through its other four pillars which are housing and sanitation, environment sustainability, progressive educational system, economic and social justice. Kekana said if electorates vote for them, they will endeavour hard to ensure that there are investors in municipalities.
“We are aiming at turning every unused building into a skill development centres to address the high rate of drop-outs, we will ensure that we build proper roads and introduce by-laws which protect our local products.
“F4SD will also give out housing vouchers worth R200 000 to complete unfinished housing projects. We will also open teachers’ colleges, build the university in every region, ensure that libraries operate 24 hours and there is a 24 hour Wi-Fi centres,” he said.
Kekana added that they will ensure that clinics are opened for 24 hours a day. He said door-to-door delivery of medication to elders from the age of 80 to 120 will be implemented.
“We will ensure that we abolish the age limit during employment and job opportunities. The same way we were able to stand for justice against the IEC, we will stand the same way for you. Our fight with IEC is far from over, as we are also going to challenge Political Party Funding Act (PPFA),” said Kekana.
He said they will also challenge the IEC to give voting opportunities to South Africans either studying or working abroad. Kekana said introduced their mayoral candidates and said all those nominated went through rigorous processes of capacity building and interviews.
“Our mayoral candidates are old and young and possess relevant qualifications and experience gained over the years,” he said.
Meanwhile, COGSTA Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that LGE will take place on 1 November 2021.
F4SD mayoral candidates are:
· Pontsho Mafethe- (Ratlou Local Municipality)
· Thabo Nkashe- (Ditsobotla Local Municipality)
· Merriam Mosiako- (City of Matlosana)
· Mika Moeti- (Greater Taung Local Municipality)
· Julius Melanzi- (Rustenburg Local Municipality)
· Phumla Kgatsi- (Mahikeng Local Municipality)
· Sechaba Sekhoto- (Madibeng Local Municipality)
· Sonnyboy Calvert- (Maquassi Local Municipality)
· Ntuthuzelo George- (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality)
· Lenyatso Legabe- (Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality)
· Masego Kodisang- (Moretele Local Municipality)
· Mbahare Kekana- (Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality)
Romeo Matjila- (JB Marks Local Municipality)
Vuzi Lusenga- (The City of Tshwane)
The Guardian 