Hello, Molweni, Goeie dag, and Assalamu Alaikum. Firstly I’d like to thank everyone for the support and warmth I’ve been shown in the last few weeks, meeting so many of you has been a great pleasure and has further spurred us on to take Ward 60 back from the DA! I have heard your concerns, studied the issues you’ve raised, and reflected on your wisdom and insight, particularly from some of our older residents. As I discussed with many of you in our conversations, our elderly community members are the cornerstones of our neighbourhoods and I’m proud to say that our oldest signatory was born in the year 1939! It is indeed a lesson and inspiration to us all that we should never stop influencing the course of our lives and those around us, that we should nurture our convictions and use them to empower the generations that succeed us. In the time since starting this campaign, we’ve visited Parliament, engaged leadership on their values and vision, officially submitted my candidacy, and built up an incredibly inspiring (and continuously growing) group of people committed to the success of this campaign and the community overall. One of the more surprising events of the past week was an email from a DA supporter staunchly opposed to our message. She asked, ‘What makes you think we need change?’ And while I responded with a sincere commitment to address the concerns of this resident, I must admit my immediate thought was, ‘But isn’t it obvious?’ Having lived in this area for many years, with family and friends spanning across Lansdowne, Kenwyn, and Rondebosch East, the contrasts are unmistakable. This is a ward marked by stark wealth disparities, uneven access to services, and, in some parts, severe neglect where residents cannot move freely and continue to live under a persistent climate of fear that hangs over much of our metro. That is precisely why strengthening local governance and empowering communities to act matters so profoundly. It is a well-established principle that “the closer a representative government is to the people, the better it works”. A Ward Councillor must be representative, welcome disagreement, listen deeply, and advocate for all residents across the socioeconomic spectrum. As a resident, this has not been my lived experience While it may seem like a long time until local elections a year from now, we encourage each and every one of you to get behind us and become active citizens in your communities. We are here to reshape how people see politics - by leading with unwavering values, honesty, and transparency. Our communities should never have to choose between competence and social justice, and I am committed to delivering both. Join us. Reach out, share your voice, your expertise, and your energy. For now, we only need 200 endorsements via the Google form above and we have one month to get it. So spread it far and wide so we can change the face of local governance and get to work! AYESHA MAHATEY