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On the 14 March, while conducting a door-to-door canvassing in Nzobo ward 11, a small rural area in Nongoma in preparation for a by-election which is set to take place on 5 April 2023, our team came across a family of 6 - Grandmother, mother and four children -  that live in an approximately 3.5m x 2m mud house, and a crumbling mud hut with a gaping hole on the side that the family uses as a kitchen. 

We immediately contacted the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, who without hesitation sent an official to the site and committed to building a house for the family and for that, we show our sincerest gratitude to the MEC for his swift response.

However, ActionSA has learnt that the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) - Which is the ruling party in KwaNongoma - has taken it upon themselves to begin preparations to build a house for the family after we had publicised the situation on social media.

While we welcome the steps taken by the IFP, we, however, believe the party should do some introspection, considering that they have been governing ward 11 for many years. 

The former IFP ward councillor allegedly knew about the situation and chose to not do anything about it up until ActionSA exposed it.

Ultimately, it does not matter who builds the house for the family, we are pleased that ActionSA was able to expose what has been a lack of service delivery from the IFP government, and the non-response of the previous ward 11 councillor. 

By contesting the ward 11 by-election, ActionSA has seen first-hand the change needed by the people of KwaNongoma such as this family and we want to bring this change to more and more households when we take over this ward in April. 

Services should not be carried out to ‘buy’ votes but is vital to the dignity survival or people and families across the county. 

Issued by ActionSA KZN Provincial Chairperson Zwakele Mncwango