A woman has been elected to lead a revived ratepayer association in the Msunduzi Municipality, coincidentally during Women’s Month.

Noluthando Mzobe was elected chairperson of the reconstituted Bisley residents and ratepayers association (RRA) on August 20.

This culminated after Bisley residents met in November 2024 to oppose the construction of a community hall, and it was decided to revive the Bisley RRA to engage the municipality on the proposed project, explained Anthony Waldhausen, the CEO of Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and Civics (MARRC).

Waldhausen said several residents at the meeting volunteered to start the process to revive the RRA.

“The community came together in January this year to protest at the construction site and continued to picket at the site for over three months. It was found that the process for constructing the community hall was irregular and unlawful. It was through the residents’ protest that the project was halted and moved to the original site at Oribi Hall,” explained Waldhausen.

South Africa commemorates Women’s Month in August as a tribute to the women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956, in protest against the extension of the Pass Laws to women.

Mzobe said that she was honoured and humbled to have been elected as chairperson and that this is her opportunity to serve the community.

“I look forward to working in collaboration with the team and the community to address the needs of our neighbourhood. Together, I believe we can make meaningful progress and continue building a stronger and better Bisley for all of us,” she said.

Mzobe said her nomination came as a surprise because she joined the ratepayers association out of passion for keeping the Bisley neighbourhood safe and protecting it from bad developments.

“I did not realise my neighbours were watching and picking up some positive qualities in me. However, I am goal-driven; I like to see things through. Thus, I feel honoured to be elected as chairperson, and I wish to make the suburb of Bisley proud,” she said. 

She was also proud of how women in leadership are growing and that she was now part of it.

“I am surrounded by a committee of very competent and accomplished men and women, and it’s truly exciting that the South African society is at a place where leaders are elected based on their skill and performance rather than gender preference,” she added.

Mzobe expressed her surprise at being nominated for chairperson by men.

“To see their confidence in me was also humbling. Also, such experienced men who are husbands and fathers saw a good leader in me due to my passion and organisational skills, and my being a woman was seen as a positive factor,” she said.

Mzobe was excited to start making a positive impact in the community.

Waldhausen said the MARRC will be available to provide ongoing support and training so that they are able to engage their ward councillor and address community issues with the broader community of Bisley.

“We are finding that residents are mobilising to get organised to address their issues and to hold the municipality accountable,” he said.

The committee also elected

• Deputy Chairperson: Ralph Raja

• Treasurer: Nicholas Arokiam

• Secretary: Ntsebo Mkhize

It also nominated Hein van den Berg and Susan van den Berg to represent the Bisley RRA on MARRC Exco as well.

The new committee will attend a workshop on the roles and responsibilities of office bearers to be facilitated by MARRC. Bisley RRA is the 13th civic association to join MARRC.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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