Mayor Charmaine Manuel: Cool, calm and collected
2006-11-23
Susan Botha
CALM and composed with a friendly, easy manner: this is the overwhelming impression one gets when you meet Drakenstein’s Mayor, Charmaine Manuel.
We are sitting in her revamped office (the first time in 30 years).
Hued in neutral colours, it creates a peaceful environment, with a feminine touch to welcome guests.
Mayor Manuel has moved a beautiful table and chairs into a nook of the mayoral chambers - it is more of a dining room table than a formal conference table, creating an air of informality which brings guests closer to the mayor.
And this is one of the most charming aspects of the Mayor’s personality: she has the uncanny ability to set visitors at ease.
A considerate, humble person, she does, when possible, intervene when her staff try to protect her against unscheduled visitors.
Irrespective of the status of the person, she will invite a community leader or farm worker into her office and spare a few minutes from a very busy schedule to hear about their problem.
However, she can also be stern - not getting excited and always keeping a balanced perspective, she will take on officials and councillors who are out of line.
Her style is definitely that of the iron fist in the velvet glove.
Mayor Manuel is a strong woman with definite opinions, especially regarding disadvantaged groups like women and farm workers.
Although not a full-blown feminist, she is very conscious of the history of women in South Africa and adamant that they should enjoy equal opportunities with men.
“From government’s side there is acknowledgement for women today, and that is good. An environment must be created where women can do their best.
“And we are doing it, in every sphere,” she adds with a smile.
“They are the caregivers of the community and we can see it when it comes to homebased care for HIV/Aids - wherever there are volunteers involved.”
One of the problems she has is that people are sensitised to the roles of men and women.
“The woman is in the home, the mother who must teach morals to the children. But we can be equal to the man.”
Then, with a smile: “We must however acknowledge that we can’t do everything. Women are not superstars.”
This is difficult to believe when you look at the CV of our mayor.
Manuel was born in Paarl. She attended the Bethel Congregational Primary School and went on to complete her high school education at Paulus Joubert High in Paarl East.
She then enrolled at the Söhnge Teacher’s College in Worcester where she completed her teacher’s diploma.
As a firm believer in the philosophy of life-long learning she enrolled on a part time basis at the university of the Western Cape, completing a BA degree.
She is a member of the Bethel Cong congregation and religion plays a big role in her life.
Manuel started a career in education in 1974 at the Simondium Primary School where she spent the greater part of her career - 27 years.
The community of Simondium, like so many others throughout the country were severely affected by forced removals due to the Group Areas Act.
This together, with the fact that most of her learners were from families who live in abject poverty, left Charmaine with no other option than to become involved in their lives.
She became an activist who assisted families who were faced with eviction from farms and were left destitute.
She joined progressive teachers’ organisations like the Paarl Teacher’s Union who spoke out against the unfair and evil practises of the Apartheid regime.
“Farmworkers got left behind because of long distances and poor rumneration. The government has done a lot, but more is necessary.
“Farmworkers must be put in a situation where they own their own homes - the subsidies are there.”
Charmaine later became a member of the African National Congress where she served for five years on the executive committee of the Paarl branch as the secretary and chairperson respectively.
She was elected in 2000 to become a member of the executive of the ANC in the Boland Region, where she still serves.
She loves to work with people and in 2000 Charmaine was elected to serve as a councillor in the Drakenstein Municipality.
On 1 March this year she was elected to serve as the Executive Mayor of the Drakenstein Municipality which includes Wellington, Hermon, Saron and Gouda.
Charmaine is married to husband Jeff and they have two children, Jeffrey and Carmen, both students at the University of the Western Cape.
Jeffrey snr is the Senior Manager Finance of the University of Limpopo, which means Charmaine is also head of the household most of the time.
“My vision for Drakenstein is a community that will grow until everyone feels safe and cherished.
“I realise this is a process.
“The Municipality acknowledges that it has to create an economic climate that will lead to job creation in order that people can work and can put food on the table.
“This is a very complex process and will depend on everyone in the community, all roleplayers on all levels, coming forward with initiatives and giving their co-operation."
One thing is for sure: with Charmaine Manuel as leader, we will have a clear road to follow.
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