How do communities choose, and by what measures do they select, their leaders? The general talking point around dining tables, “braaivleis vure met ’n biertjie in die hand”, leaning against pub counters, and in the minds of residents is “What is a ward councillor? What motivates them to pursue a career path in the political field?”
The answer to these are clearly set out in a ward-councillor job description of a political party. Some of these “political observers” have become quite the expert on this issue by studying the duties of a ward councillor, and therefore they believe their view on what a ward councillor should be is the ultimate yardstick by which to judge a ward councillor on his/her performance.
On a regular basis the local media report on the delivery of services in certain wards by elected ward councillors. But there are those who go even beyond what is expected of them in the duties they signed-up for when accepting the ward councillor’s tasks. They selflessly, and with pride, dedicate their time, energy and emotion, with empathy, sympathy, human spirit and a driving desire to serve their constituents.
These ward councillors are indeed a beacon of hope and a shining light in the very tough and turbulent times the current population lives in.
But then, regrettably, there is a downside to this service-delivery task by those ward councillors who just don’t care about their wards and constituents. They drive around in shiny cars, live in luxury in suburbs, smiles and hugs and kisses all round, but they never touch the ground to walk a mile, hand-in-hand, with the very people who elected them to be their watchdog, protecting and assisting them with the multiple problems that occur in their daily lives. When confronted about their lack of interest, they glibly state, and without shame, that they are “not a messenger or servant of the people”.
They just leave their ward constituents to fight their own battles, without so much as a thought to what they signed-up for as a ward councillor. Unfortunately these rogue councillors are protected by their political bosses. They are untouchable.
Let’s talk among ourselves and give serious thought to our choices in leaders of our communities the next time we elect a leader.
