By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Meet Nkele Talifhani Galedzana, independent ward 75 Councillor.
Nkele, affectionately known as Dikeledi, is a 26-year-old woman born and bred on the dusty streets of Phase1 Alexandra Township.
With her upbringing as an ordinary, but the problematic young woman, she has attained great ordeal in pursuing great change within the upliftment of her community and its people.
Her political journey began at Minerva Secondary school after making a turnaround in her life as she was almost expelled, but educators advocated on her behalf because she happened to be one of the brightest individuals who excelled in class.
“From that day on, I found my love in assisting other people; I firstly became one of the first RCLs who was elected while doing her matric. I held the cap of secretary and later got an appointment for the first matric committee chair. ”
From there, she joined the ANC Youth League, where she led as a BTT Convenor, deputy Secretary, deputy chair and later RTT member.
Between 2016 and 2019, she held the cap of the ANC Zonal Elections Administrator, running programs on the ground during elections.
“Furthermore, I led in the ANC BEC as Social Development Portfolio head. My political career advanced into the Tertiary, where I led in the student movement SASCO as a political commissar and was part of the students who went on the ground during FeesMustFall campaigns.
“I am a currently an independent councillor candidate; independent of any political party.
“The reason for my decision to take that path was due to the fact that I was treated like a threat within the very organisation that raised me and that I had hope of changing its relevancy in the eyes of the people.
“But instead, I was sidelined for standing true to myself and the people of my ward,” she says.
She says she now belongs to no one, but the community that know “my work and appreciate it. I have partaken in various programs, including the matric dance campaign headed by NPO; Independence Must Rise, Alexandra Clean up as one of the coordinators, rebuilding of burnt shacks into bricked homes, sanitary towel drives, clothes drive, feeding schemes, food parcels drives and feeding drug addicts with an organization Lwazi Fefe Day Care Centre”.
“Personally, I’ve saved four young men who were addicts, including my own blood brother who is now a recovered addict of Nyaope for 13 years.
“People should vote for me because I am a young person whom has proven through the years her capability to assist her community. I am the only change one can chose because political parties have played with the community for years and are resistant to change. Therefore, it means they will never be able to assist the community.
“My opponents focus more on just service delivery and promising to do better at it, forgetting that you can deliver service to the people.
“But if they aren’t emotionally, physically and mentally well, they will not experience the outcomes of the service delivery brought.”
Nkele says she would always target issues that affect individuals as her aspirations and goals are to advance the educational growth of individuals within the ward using skills development programs, tutoring, career guidance and motivational gathers to assist in eradicating substance abuse, alcohol abuse, depression, teenage pregnancy and crime.
“I have found great qualities in working towards change for the community because I was once assisted to change my life, therefore others also deserve the same as they also need hope to hold on.
“Being a young councillor whom they can relate well with will advance the chances for young people to move away from all the ill mannered behaviors as they would’ve gotten an inspiration to aspire to be like.
“I am a different that will make a difference.”