The newly elected Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) executive committee has called on Khayelitsha residents to unite in order to tackle the various challenges currently facing the area.
KDF held a conference over three days last weekend, at theBellville campus of CPUT, during which members debated issues and also assessed the state of the forum.
Elected for a second term, KDF chairperson Ndithini Tyhido struck a reconciliatory tone when he was asked what the forum wanted to achieve this time around under his leadership.
Mr Tyhido said the unity of the people of Khayelitsha would be priority number one as well as clearing accusations of fraud and corruption levelled at the forum.
“We need to create a new Khayelitsha where its people live, work and play.
“To achieve that, we need maximum unity. We need to speak to all people and unite them. This KDF will have to embark on the move that will see people pulling together. We have a task at hand. We also need to partner with police and that partnership must be a healthy one. We need to unite against crime.
‘We cannot be having two incidents of robberies in a mall in one day and we sit and watch. Surely something is not right,” he told Vukani. While he said much of the focus would also be an attempt to speak to the Greater Khayelitsha Development Initiative, a splinter group of KDF, Mr Tyhido said the KDF system needed to transform to manage internal conflict.
He said people had misconceptions about the forum.
“In 21 days in the office we will convene a KDF policy development meeting.
“That will help us prevent maladministration, fraud and corruption within the forum,” he said.
His words were echoed by his deputy, Thandi Msuthu.
Ms Msuthu said it was good that she and Mr Tyhido were back at the helm.
She said they had learned a lot of and now it was time to act and implement plans.
“We have noticed our challenges and weak points and we have learned a lot from them.
“There were not proper and healthy working relationships before.
“This is was caused by various things. I also blame the top five for being too truthful to individuals.
“But now we will work in unity. We will need regular meetings,” she said.
She said the forum needed to consult more with the people of Khayelitsha and its stakeholders. She called for unity to be able to tackle crucial issues affecting Khayelitsha. The KDF’s top five members are chairperson Ndithini Tyhido; deputy chairperson Thandi Msuthu; secretary Malibongwe Mali; deputy secretary Funeka Mpetha and the treasurer is Siyamcela Jingozi.
