DAVID SETSHEDI HAS QUIT THE ANC AND IS NOW AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

Independent Ward 22 Councillor candidate David Setshedi

David Setshedi of Mabopane Ward 22, who up until now was a staunch member of the ANC, has quit the party and will be standing as an independent Ward Councillor Candidate in the forthcoming Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.

Setshedi stressed that though he has resigned from the ANC, he is still a member of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO).

One of the many potholes in Ward 22 Mabopane

SANCO is an alliance partner of the ANC, though relations between the two parties have of late been strained.

Tshwane Talks had an opportunity to engage Setshedi in a Question and Answer session this week.

1Q:Why did you decide to become an independent Councillor candidate for Ward 22 in Mabopane?

1A:I decided to stand as an independent Councillor candidate because service delivery in Ward 22 has turned into internal party fights and does not focus on the people.

Potholes, water, lights and jobs don’t need a party T-shirt; they need a person who lives among the people.

As an independent Councillor candidate I am accountable to the residents of Mabopane, not to a regional political party list.

2Q:Are you still a member of the ANC and SANCO?

2A:I am a still a proud member of SANCO but I am no longer a member of the ANC.

My membership expired and I subsequently resigned from the party.

3Q:Did you inform the ANC about your decision to become an independent Councillor candidate?

3A:Yes, as a matter of respect I did inform my former Comrades in the ANC that I have resigned and that I would now be standing as an independent Councillor candidate in Mabopane Ward 22.

This is about service to Ward 22 and not about fighting any political party and I must say my roots for political activism are in SANCO.

4Q:Who influenced you to have an interest in politics?

4A: Comrade Lasie of Eldorado Park in the Kliptown Municipality who taught me that politics is not about speeches at rallies, but about service delivery in the streets, fixing a tap, attending a funeral and listening to a grandmother’s concerns.

From Comrade Lasie I learned that a leader must first and foremost be a servant.

5Q:Which event or tragedy compelled you to finally get into politics?

5A:Two things; the first being the water crisis in Mabopane whereby residents went for weeks on end without water with elderly residents having to push wheelbarrows after fetching it from remote places.

The second one was a tragic incident whereby a child fell into an open drainage hole which had been reported to the Municipality eight weeks prior to the tragic death with no action coming forth from the Municipality to shut down the drainage hole.

I then decided there and then that if we continue voting for a logo and not a person who will bring about meaningful change, then our lives as residents will remain stagnant.

6Q:What changes do you want to bring to the community of Ward 22 in Mabopane?

6A:My five-point plan which entails the following:

(a) Water first: weekly water schedule and leak- reporting system.

(b)Clean ward, safe ward, waste collection, clearing dumping sites and fixing high mast lights.

(c)Jobs for youths: Ward-based database for EPWP/ CWP with no secret list.

(d) Transparent Ward treasury: monthly public financial report for every cent allocated to Ward 22.

(e)Open Ward office for 5 days a week as well as a WhatsApp line with a 48 hour response.

7Q:In your opinion what are the things that the community of Ward 22 in Mabopane need the most?

7A:Reliable water, functioning sewerages, road safety, lights, jobs for youth and to also be listened to with dignity regarding their concerns.

8Q:In your opinion how can the water crisis faced by the people of Tshwane be resolved once and for all?

8A:Fix leaks because Tshwane loses over 30% of its bulk water supply to leakages and there must therefore be a huge investment in Mabopane reservoirs and boreholes.

The maintenance budget must be published so that all residents can see and know about it and water must not be used as a political weapon but must be provided to everybody irrespective of their political affiliations.

9Q:What is your message to the people of Tshwane regarding the forthcoming elections on 4 November 2026?

9A:On 4 November 2026 vote with your eyes open, not out of anger; and vote for someone who lives with you in your ward and always picks up the phone when residents need his assistance

10Q:Briefly explain the initiative whereby you roll out wheelchairs to needy members of the community.

10A:I have rolled out wheelchairs in all areas of Mabopane Ward 22 whenever the need arose.

11Q:If there are any other projects that you are involved in, you may also mention them as well.

11A: I was leading the project of checking expired food and products; led the campaign to make sure that local security officers get hired by Odi hospital and also got involved in crime awareness initiatives as well as recovery programmes for drug addicts.