What does Caron do as a councillor?
She sees it as one of her most important task to bring back information about government activities and plans to the communities, and to gather information about people’s opions and what is and what isn’t working.
She literaly drives around in her ward and notes down where street lights aren’t working, where water is dripping, etc. She sees it as her obligation to make sure thee things get fixed, and comes back to check on them later.

What are the most important issues for her campaign?
Most important issues in her ward: water and electricity bills, illegally occupied houses, clean streets, crime, rights of domestic workers.
Illegally occupied houses is a big problem, because in the beginning of the 90’s, white people have left most houses in the city centre, out of fear of violence. They have rented them out, to people who in their turn have also rented out the houses again, now nobody is paying rent and as a consequence water and electricity are closed down. People live under appaling circumstances and nobody can be held responsible.

What are your main campaigning tools?
The ANC’s most important strategy is their ‘ Door to door’ visits. Six days a week, ANC candidates and volunteers go to every house in a neighbourhood, knock on the doors, and ask people the basic questions:
“ are you registered as a voter? ’
Do you know where you have to go and vote?
If not, do you wish me to tell you?
Don’t forget to vote!
By the way, please vote for us.. “

“Sometimes you get angry reactions. People tell you to get the hell out of their houses because they feel betrayed. Then you try to talk, find out why they are so angry and see what you can do to can do to change that”

Unlike in the beginning, it is difficult to get volunteers for campaigning activities these days. People don’t want to work for nothing anymore.

Do you campaign for yourself?
Caron doesn’t campaign for herself, she campaigns for the ANC. This campaign is about the ANC, not about individuals. So no individuals on posters etc, just Mbeki.
This is also why the ANC has chosen not to made public untill after the elections whom its mayoral candidates will be, to depersonalize the campaign. Its about the programme, not the people.

There seems to be a lot of anger and dissatisfaction with (local) government among the population. Do you encounter a lot of hostility when campaigning?
No, not so much. Unlike in other districts, there is not that much dissatisfaction with the government in the innercity.
The point is not to make idle promise.” When people tell you their complaints, you sometimes must have the courage to say’ I don’t know, but I will find out’. I hear what you are saying and I will come back to you. And then you have to do that. You can’ t simply promise’ I will make sure your electricy gets turned on again, if you don’t exacltly know what the problem is’. That creates anger and frustration among the people.”

She compares politics to a family values system: you cannot provide the whole family with new shoes at once, you have to see who most needs them at a certain time.

Another reason for frustration is corruption. It comes up in gatherings a lot. Her answer: “ the only reason why you know there is corruption is because the ANC exposes it. It is a problem, but not as big as people think. The ANC does act upon corruption, look at the statistics.”

If you talk to people in the streets, most of them say they are not going to vote, because it won’t make a difference anyway. What do you think about that?
“Its dangerous. I tell them: “Don’t assume too easily that the job has been done.” We don’t want people to wake up too late. People think transformation is finalized, but it is not. We are still working to undo the legacy of apartheid. 10 years is really nothing after 300 years of apartheid history. And we need their support for that”

“Politics is exciting. You have to be in there with your body, mind and soul.”

ANC has a 2/3 majority in Joburg. The situation seems stable.

(interview by Kirsten Hund)

Caron Kgomo in Johannesburg
Judith Sargentini in Amsterdam
Introductie