By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – One of the critical challenges that the Democratic Alliance (DA) had to overcome in its activism and advocacy work is the issue of race. This was highlighted by branch chairpersons of the Drakensberg constiency during a visit from their provincial leader and candidate for Free State premier Roy Jankielsohn.
“I’ve attended many constituency branch meetings but what I can say about this group of activists is that you have so much passion and enthusiasm which is wonderful to see. As activists and branch chairpersons, you are the important part of the party because of the work that you do on the ground,” Jankielsohn said while addressing a group of branch chairpersons from Maluti – a – Phofung (MAP) and Phumelela who make up the DA’s Drakensberg constituency branch.
Mathapelo Mokoena who is a constituency coordinator said the following about her experience as an activist for the party, “The DA has really changed my life, because I have been in so many programs in the DA that allowed me to turn my life around and opened doors for me. I was an unemployed graduate who started to volunteer for the organisation then they recognised my potential until now I am a staff member who works on service delivery issues in the community of Thabong village where I come from.”
Moshe Lefuma who is the Drakensberg constiency branch chairperson says that being a political activist is not an easy task so people must be determined to work hard and preserver because the community of MAP still faces challenges and insecurities about race issues.
Benkele Nhlapo a branch chairperson for ward 26, who is known to his community as Chema is very proud to be part of this party and said this when speaking to The Guard, “Residents of my ward are starting to acknowledge and see the work that I am doing in the community because they have asked me to come and speak to them because they want real change and are tired of poor service delivery.”
Branch chairpersons from the other wards shared the same sentiments as Chema and felt motivated and inspired by their provincial leader’s visit to MAP.
