Lucy Mokoena, Lejweleputswa:
An urgent plea to the Lejweleputswa District mayor and municipal manager – a call for action after five months of suffering.
Every community deserves leaders who protect not only the prosperity of the region, but also the dignity of its people. Today, our hearts are with the dedicated employees of the Lejweleputswa Development Agency (LDA) – workers who, for over five months, have faced the distressing reality of unpaid salaries and uncertainty about their future.
These are not faceless numbers on a payroll. They are members of our community – mothers and fathers, daughters and sons – whose daily lives have been thrown into upheaval.
The LDA was established with a vital mission: to stimulate economic growth across the district, create jobs, and help communities thrive beyond the boom-and-bust of mining economies. Yet today, the very people entrusted with implementing this vision are suffering while the promises of economic renewal lie dormant.
This moment calls for a change of heart, guided by accountability and compassion from our municipality’s leadership.
The hardworking staff of the agency deserve urgent, transparent action. A clear plan must be presented and implemented to ensure workers receive the salaries owed to them without further delay. Families cannot wait in limbo while leadership debates bureaucracy.
The community has the right to know what steps are being taken – not veiled statements or vague reassurances, but regular, transparent updates on progress and timelines.
The LDA’s mandate was to uplift our district economically. It is time to restore that mission with tangible strategies that benefit workers and residents alike, drawing on honest evaluation and genuine community engagement.
Workers have shown patience for too long. Their suffering is a reminder that good governance must never be disconnected from the lived realities of the people it serves. True leadership is measured not by titles or budgets, but by how quickly and fairly it responds when its people are in need.
To the executive mayor of Lejweleputswa, municipal manager, to all councillors and decision-makers: The time for compassion, courage, and accountability is now. Let this be the moment you choose to lead with heart – for the people who make this district their home, and for the future you promised to build together.
