Ndithini Tyhido is at the helm of the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) for the third time, after being re-elected unopposed over the weekend.
Replacing Michael Benu in 2015, he will serve another four-year term.
Mawande Jara, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Radio Zibonele FM, who was also vying for the position, could not meet the threshold of votes to stand, clearing the way for Tyhido during the 10th conference of KDF held at the Cape Times Fresh Air Camp in Simons Town last weekend.
At least 115 delegates of various organisations in and around Khayelitsha gathered there for the election.
Jara resigned from Zibonele in October last year after the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) suspended the station on broadcasting after the station had failed to pay for its the broadcasting licence.
Tyhido described his nomination as an easy victory.
“The conference was of a high standard,” he said.
“My re-election shocked many people.
“I was elected unopposed because the person I was competing against didn’t make the threshold of 30%. But all the processes were fair and square.”
Tyhido stated he doesn’t take his position lightly as it came with many challenges.
He stressed the importance of continuing to redress all the challenges Khayelitsha is facing. “Our main focus now is to partner with all the spheres of government to form a formidable force.
“We are prepared to support the government at all costs. But at the same time we will fight against them whenever our needs are not met. It is not going to be smooth sailing.”
He stressed the importance of revisiting the resolutions made at the 2013 KDF Summit held at False Bay College. Tyhido said some of these were not fully implemented.
“The KDF founding vision was to have a democratic, non-racial, and economically viable Khayelitsha that is integrated with the broader Cape Metropolitan Area, in which there is peace, justice, equality and security for all residents.
“To accelerate progress and take Khayelitsha to the next level development must be driven on a full time basis, presenting opportunities to build capacity in that regard.”
Tyhido emphasised the need to speed up the process of transfer of title deeds programmes to the rightful owners and help them fulfil ownership and be role-players in the economy.
He stated the forum needed to ensure Khayelitsha is integrated into the broader metropolitan area by ensuring all the Khayelitsha railway lines were re-opened and be extended to link Khayelitsha to the Helderberg Basin and Boland district.
Tyhido stated the aim is to make Khayelitsha an economic hub of the metro. “Khayelitsha is not a jungle,” he declared. “We can’t allow ourselves to be dictated to by hoodlums.”
Other KDF office bearers in its five other portfolios are Nodumo Khuthuka (Deputy chair), Nkosinathi Veza Neti (Secretary), Nkosinathi Gaba (Deputy Secretary), Mabatho Kumeke (Second Deputy secretary) and Neliswa Bomvana (Treasurer).