New vibrant councillor with big dreams for sport, recreation, arts and culture

Newly appointed Nelson Mandela Bay Metro mayoral council member for sport, recreation, arts and culture, Siyasanga Sijadu, says she wants to retain young sporting talent in the Bay and bring traditional dancing into the cultural spotlight.

The 25-year-old, who is the acting regional secretary of the Congress of the People (COPE), is the youngest member of the mayoral council, under DA leadership.

A former pupil at Masiphathisane Senior Secondary School in Motherwell, Sijadu said she would never in a million years have pictured herself in the position she was in today.

While growing up she dreamt of becoming an artist, but soon realised that artists struggled financially.

Speaking to Weekend Post after her first week in office, Sijadu – now a postgraduate student in media studies at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) – described her experience in her new position as challenging but exciting.

“I have had countless meetings and I realise that one is now on call 12 hours a day,” she smiled.

“The mayor can call upon you at any time if he wants to meet up with you.

“But it’s something that was expected because he is a perfectionist and he wants things to be done on time.

“If he wants to call you at 8pm you must come, so it’s been hectic but also interesting at the same time.”