Number's up for 'cheeky' ANC councillor

Life was tough for Pretty Moganedi before she was elected ANC ward councillor in 2011.

Residents of ward 72 in Atteridgeville, popularly known as "Black Rock", say their councillor used to try to put food on the table for her two children by playing fah-fee, an illegal Chinese gambling game in which dreams are used to identify "lucky" numbers.

Then unemployed, Moganedi would wake up every morning in her shack in Mshenguville, before joining the other gamblers on the street corner.

But life changed for the better when she was elected councillor in the 2011 local government elections.

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From being unemployed, Moganedi went to earning a R30,000 salary which made her creditworthy and allowed her to buy a modest house in Atteridgeville's middle-class Extension7.

She also bought a Toyota Condor.

However, she kept her shack in a bid to comply with the ANC's resolution that councillors reside in the areas they represent.

But she now stands to lose everything as the ANC has nominated Solomon Sedibeng to be its candidate in the August 3 local elections.

Moganedi's ward was a scene of violent protest when some ANC supporters took to the streets over the party's decision to nominate former cabinet minister Thoko Didiza as the ANC's mayoral candidate in Tshwane municipality.

But very few, if any, Black Rock residents are complaining about the ANC's decision not to retain Moganedi.

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Residents claim Moganedi is aloof and has neglected service delivery problems in the area.

"You take grievances to her, she ignores them. She's also cheeky and rude ... For five years she's never called a single community meeting," said resident Mike Matsetela.

Said another resident who declined to be named: "When she was elected in 2011, she was living in a shack but now she has a nice house. At the shack she only left her son and she only comes in the morning and goes in the evening."

A "community activist" who also requested anonymity said that although residents had lost confidence in Moganedi, they were not in favour of Sedibeng.

"He's too new in our neighbourhood and we are not confident he's familiar with the issues," he said.

Moganedi was not available for comment yesterday despite having initially agreed to an interview.