Community lashes out at councillor

Ward 118’s ward councillor was on the receiving end when tempers flared at a sector and Cyrildene community meeting recently.

Clr Alison van der Molen’s comments to residents complaining about bylaw contraventions were mostly to form a resident’s association and invite her to these meetings.

The EXPRESS attended the monthly sector meeting, held to discuss all crime-related issues, as well as a special residents meeting that had been called for by people to address concerns such as the deterioration of Cyrildene.

Soon after receiving feedback from Warrant Officer Johan Jordaan about crime in the sector, fuming residents highlighted their dissatisfaction with Clr Van der Molen. Comments about her apparent “lack of feedback and commitment to her job” boiled over into the community meeting, which she attended.

Several residents believe the bylaw contraventions, such as illegal building, dumping and parking, are not only leading to the deterioration of Cyrildene but are also leading to other criminal activities that pose a danger to them.

Mr Maurizio Galimberti, the chairperson of the Cyrildene Security Initiative said, “We have a councillor in the area to address problems but she does nothing. She does not communicate with us. Trying to get her to do something is like barking against the wind. If we compare Cyrildene today to a year ago, it is worse. If the councillor did her job this would not have happened,” he said.

Clr Van der Molen said it is difficult to give residents feedback on their council-related complaints when she does not get a response from officials.

Mr Galimberti said informing residents that she has tried to get a response from council and failed is feedback in itself. “The sector meeting has been held at the same time and day of the month for years. This is where residents meet to discuss all their problems. Clr Van der Molen does not attend our meetings and does not listen to anything we say,” said Mr Galimberti.

Clr Van der Molen said she does not attend sector meetings and although she found out about the residents meeting by mistake, she attended.

“I attend community police forum meetings. If a residents’ association were to be established, and if I was invited, I would gladly attend. Sector meetings deal with SAPS’ issues and communities in that sector raise crime issues. My concern is if a sector meeting does not deal with crime in all suburbs of that sector, it excludes people. Sometimes these issues overlap into municipal issues and these can be escalated. A residents’ association is there for the general wellbeing of the community. I have not received complaints from the community and reference numbers for problems reported to council. When I receive complaints from residents I e-mail them to officials. I cannot instruct council officials to do their jobs. There are corrupt and useless officials. That is why nothing will change. This is what we are up against. I am concerned about what is happening. Since December, everything has been falling apart in the ward because the city decided to focus on the inner city due to the climate change summit,” she said.

Residents lashed out at Clr Van der Molen, stating that sending e-mails to council would not help. They said if officials are not responding, then more needs to be done by her.

Some residents said they understand that Clr Van der Molen cannot instruct council to do its job, but they do not even see her trying to help. “A councillor does not need complaints from the community to realise what is happening in the suburb. All the councillor has to do is drive around the area to see the problems,” said one of the residents, who did not want his name published.

Mr Galimberti said he is tired of all the excuses over the years.

“Residents are doing her job. She wants reference numbers, SMSes and so forth instead of just doing her job,” he said.

Ms Lynette Baise said it is a waste of time complaining to Clr Van der Molen because it would seem these complaints “fall on deaf ears”.

“Clr Van der Molen does nothing for Cyrildene. She was voted in on the assumption that she would improve the area. This was a great suburb years ago but now it is revolting,” she said.

Mr Galimberti told the EXPRESS that residents are no further than they were before the meeting.

“Clr Van der Molen talks too much and there is no action. Residents have to get together and table a vote of no confidence in her. The fact that she does not live in the ward is also a problem. A councillor must live in their ward to know what is going on. How many times does she come to the area during the week? Some residents say it is a waste of time to attend meetings when I ask them if they are coming. Meeting after meeting and nothing gets done,” said Mr Galimberti.

After listening to what Clr Van der Molen had to say about council at the meeting, another resident who did not want her name published, said people should rather vote in another party to lead the municipality. “If council is dysfunctional, vote to get the right people in. We have to take action. Cyrildene is an absolute disaster,” she said.

Responding to Mr Galimberti’s comments, Clr Van der Molen said, “People are entitled to do what they like in a democratic country. We as councillors are limited in what we can do. The ruling party refuses to hold officials to account. The member of the mayoral committee for development planning and urban management, Clr Roslynn Greeff, made a commitment to residents to provide feedback. The buck stops with her. I understand why Mr Galimberti feels the way he does, but there is a bigger picture than me,” she said.

Clr Van der Molen added that she is in the ward about five or six times a week and in Cyrildene at least once a week. “I also have report-back meetings. Notices of these meetings are published and one has to ask why residents do not attend these meetings. I ensure that I am in my ward regularly. I would appreciate residents contacting me if they have any questions. Residents of ward 118 are not alone in their frustrations. There are people in other wards who are also frustrated at council’s lack of service delivery,” she said.

She added that in her previous ward, a community made positive changes in a suburb. “There was an active residents association. Residents contributed to a community fund. The suburb looked great. Residents in another suburb asked why everything was happening in that area. It was because they took ownership. The community has to be hands-on and united,” she said.

The EXPRESS forwarded an enquiry to officials at the City of Johannesburg (COJ). At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.