Kabelo Tlhabanelo
On Monday, when new ward councillor Gomolemo Chere faced the magistrate to be sworn in, she got all flustered.
She was so choked up that she ended up saying different words from those of the oath she was supposed to repeat after the magistrate.
The video went viral, leaving some people asking how a person who can’t even speak English can be trusted to lead.
But when Scrolla.Africa caught up with Chere, she spoke perfectly good English and admitted that nerves hit her as she stood up to be sworn in as a ward 10 councillor in Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality.
“I have never appeared before a magistrate in my whole life. I got nervous and I panicked,” she said
She said she was shocked to see a video of her making rounds, and said that she is far from the first person to get nervous in such a position.
“I saw other councillors making the same mistakes but the video only shows my English speaking mistakes,” she said.
“But my goal is to work for the people who need better roads, electricity and clean running water in their taps. I am happy and ready to serve.”
But local resident Thabang Leoke is not convinced.
“Our ANC likes to put old people in power. I will not trust her if she fails to say what she was told to say. How can one fail to repeat the words you are told to repeat?” she asked.
Olebogeng Leserwane, convener of Activist for Service Delivery Forum, was more forgiving. He pointed out that even leaders who speak perfect English are more than capable of collapsing municipalities under their watch.
“She was chosen by the people who saw potential in her,” he told Scrolla.Africa.
“They saw someone who will change their lives for the better and that is what matters.”
