Cape Town - With a background in community and environmental activism, Observatory resident Kirsten Poking, 27, is throwing her hat in the ring and running to become the councillor for Ward 57 as an independent candidate with the goal of empowering the community by providing a more balanced perspective.
Ward 57 includes Observatory, Mowbray, Rosebank, Salt River and parts of Woodstock.
As a female independent with no affiliations to anyone but the community, Poking said her only allegiance was to the community and that she intended to provide a mandate led by community needs and informed by their concerns.
Previously an active member of the Bo-Kaap community - Poking also participated in workshops, actively engaged in community protests, created programs to help youth in the community and showed commitment to environmental preservation by participating in discussions and campaigns with the Youth For Marine Protected Areas (Y4MPA) to protect 30% of the world's blue and green spaces by 2030.
The activist currently worked as a Open Water Scuba Diving Instructor through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and firmly believed democracy should not be a struggle for the privileged.
“We need an independent voice who will prioritise the community rather than party mandates. We need action to make actual change and with this position I can empower the community by giving a more balanced perspective,” said Poking.
Poking said there were many issues facing the communities in ward 57 that required their own unique solution but the items at the top of her list were: safety and security, inclusivity of differently abledness, accountability and transparency, affordable transport solutions and heritage preservation.
“The differently-abled in many communities go unnoticed when they need access like everyone else,” said Poking.
Observatory resident Kari Cousins said Poking was thoroughly aware of the different challenges throughout the ward.
“When I spoke to her, she spoke very powerfully about the community and wanting to serve the community- which is refreshing. Whatever the outcome of her campaign is, I think that just by being available in the community, hanging out, talking to people - that she's doing an immense service to our community, ” said Cousins.