I am here to help the community of Diepsloot, says Prince Mgiba.

We are here to listen to the people's needs, so that we can help them cause this land belongs to AmaNdebele. Said Prince Mgiba. Pictures Maleka Charles.

Maleka Charles

The Ndebele Prince from Vosloorus has raised concerns over several challenges facing Diepsloot, including a shortage of houses and schools in the community.

During his surprise visit to the Father Louis Blondel Centre in Diepsloot Extension 5 on Thursday, Prince Mgiba addressed community members and promised to work with the government to bring positive change to the area, which he noted belongs to the Ndebele people.

The prince revealed plans to bring investors into Diepsloot to support the construction of hospitals, schools, and housing, aiming to address the critical infrastructure gaps in the community.

"The reason i'm here, i want to hear from the Diepsloot community what their needs are, so that we can work together with the government and counselors  to help them.

"I have investors with me and i can see there are no hospitals, there's a shortage of schools and houses."

"We are here to listen to the people's needs so that we can help them cause this land belongs to AmaNdebele."

Addressing how the Royal Council plans to tackle crime and unemployment, Prince Mgiba said he intends to appoint headmen to patrol the area, a move he added would also create job opportunities for the community.

"Firstly, we'll start with crime, i am going to deploy the headmen, that are going to look after the people there."

"They can start from six o'clock in the morning, so that when people are from work they can escort them to their homes."

"This headmen will patrol the whole night, and this will be a job creation for them as well, because we don;t want to see people not working in this area."

The Prince added that these headmen will work closely with local councillors and the police to ensure Diepsloot becomes a safer environment for all residents.

"The headsmen will work together with the counselors to try and stop crime in the area."

"The prince is here to work together with the government to stop all this corruption, cause government alone can't."

"So we are here to help them, we'll work together with the police to make sure our people are safe."

Later, the Prince was given a tour of the centre by Wot-if? Trust founder Gail Styger, who introduced him to the organisation’s staff and participants.

The AmaNdebele Prince also announced that he plans to include Gail Styger in one of his development projects, adding that he would introduce her to King Makhosonke II in Vosloorus.

Prince Mgiba was inaugurated as the prince of the Ndebele people in Vosloorus under the kingship of King Makhosonke II on 24 September 2018.