By JOHANNESBURG — As South Africa gears up for the upcoming local government elections, ActionSA’s Ward 31 candidate, Kathleen Pinky Moticoe, is trading conventional political rhetoric for community-driven action.
With deep roots as a long-standing activist rather than a career politician, Moticoe believes her grassroots campaign has already done the necessary groundwork.
“I don’t even feel me campaigning today,” Moticoe says. “It’s all about collecting my people, bringing them close to the voting stations. The campaign itself started two months ago.”
Addressing Service Delivery Failures and Local Decay
Moticoe’s platform is built on confronting the daily realities plaguing her community. Operating within a massive ward—especially expanded following the 2021 demarcation and further growth since—she points to severe infrastructure and civic challenges that require urgent intervention.
Key community crises highlighted by Moticoe include:
- Infrastructure Breakdown: Persistent issues with sewage leaks, overflowing potholes, and failing electricity networks.
- Rising Crime: High rates of local crime and growing neighbourhood security concerns.
- Housing and Evictions: A wave of illegal evictions sweeping through areas like Klipfontein, leaving child-headed and vulnerable families displaced.
Recognizing that no single individual can be everywhere at once across such a vast ward, Moticoe is implementing a localized block-captain structure. Under this system, dedicated community representatives in every block will report local grievances directly to her office to ensure swift intervention.
A Firm Stance on Immigration and Local Economies
A central pillar of ActionSA’s policy platform championed by Moticoe is a strict, structured approach to illegal immigration and economic sovereignty. While emphasizing that the party approaches the issue carefully rather than arbitrarily harassing foreign nationals, Moticoe draws a sharp line regarding local business ownership and employment.
“We want to see these spaza shops owned by our people,” Moticoe asserts. She argues that foreign nationals should come to South Africa to share skills and contribute before returning home, much like South Africans working abroad, rather than dominating local retail and informal trade spaces.
Critiquing the ruling party’s handling of the nation since the dawn of democracy, Moticoe believes current socio-economic failures have gone too far. Motivated by her children and the future of her community, the 58-year-old candidate decided to enter local politics to drive tangible change.
While acknowledging that fixing every structural issue is impossible within a single five-year term, Moticoe has a clear benchmark for her leadership: delivering visible, transformative change within her first 100 days in office.
