Driven by the frustration of not having adequate access to basic services, such as water, scores of residents from Mpheni attended the launch of the Mpheni branch of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco). The event was held at Ozias Davhana Secondary School on Saturday, 2 July.
According to the deputy chairperson of Sanco in the Vhembe region, Mr Andy Munyai, the structure aims to oversee and make sure that local councillors, together with community leaders, fulfil their official mandate.
During the event, the leadership of the Mpheni branch was elected. Miss Eunice Mugwena was elected as chairperson, Mr Fredric Tshitango as deputy chairperson, and Mr Raymond Matsapula as secretary.
One of the residents, Miss Gogina Ragosha, said that her desire for Sanco Mpheni was to assist the community with service-delivery woes. "We want basic services such as water and proper roads, and we are fed up with buying water with our hard-earned money. The cost of living is very high, and I hope the structure's intervention really brings significant change to our community," she said.
The chairperson of the Mpheni Traditional Council, Mr Charles Musekwa, welcomed the new structure. "We expect to see the Traditional Council working with no disturbance," he said.
Mugwena said that working hand in hand with community leaders would contribute to service delivery to the community. "Together with the leaders of this village, we will have to work in unity to bring services to the community at large," she said.
Mr Rudzani Ndou, a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and treasurer of the African National Congress (ANC)'s Luonde branch, said: "I believe and hope that the launching of the Sanco branch will create a massive impact on community services. Many people had a lot of questions in terms of service delivery and Sanco is known as an engine to ensure that we get better services."
Andy Munyai added that Sanco would also facilitate community meetings with members of the community, together with councillors and the community leaders. "This structure will assist them with service-delivery challenges and consultations with the ward councillor, but if they don't find joy, they are allowed to consult the sub-regional leadership of Sanco to intervene, which is also responsible to meet with the mayor," he said.