KNYSNA NEWS - Councillor Patrick Makhetha was sworn in last week as the new PR councillor for the ACDP in the Knysna Municipality, replacing former councillor Ian Uys who resigned last month.
On Monday 19 October, Makhetha took oath in a special ceremony that included Speaker Mertle Gombo, Mayor Elrick van Awegen and other council members.
Makhetha was born and raised in Kranshoek, Plettenberg Bay and it was in this small Griqua community where his passion for community development was kindled and developed, he said.
After qualifying as a minister at the Chaldo Bible Institute in 1987, he was ordained in 1988 as a full-time minister in the Full Gospel Church of South Africa.
He also acquired qualifications in business management and community development and was involved in various projects in the Western Cape.
Makhetha joined the ACDP in 2010 and served on various structures in the party. He was a member of the party's provincial executive committee (PEC) in the Western Cape and was also an adviser to Member of the Provincial Parliament and ACDP Western Cape leader, Ferlon Christians.
In a statement on Monday this week, Makhetha said his deployment to Knysna Municipality came at crucial time. "My more than 30 years' experience in community development will assist with the challenges that the Knysna community is facing. I will collaborate with other councillors to address the issue of housing and service delivery," he said.
The councillor added that he is particularly passionate about skills development and entrepreneurship for the youth of Knysna. "Unemployed youth should be assisted to contribute to the economy of Knysna. I believe that training programmes partnering with the different law enforcement agencies and community development organisations in Knysna must be rolled out to all schools and unemployed youth to assist in reducing crime," he said.
Makhetha stressed that although he represents the ACDP in Council, he is there to serve the entire community of Knysna.
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