It was only in March this year when shock waves reverberated through communities after news broke that veteran City of Joburg councillor Victor Penning had died.
Filling the former leader’s shoes will be a big ask, but up to the task and itching to create a legacy of his own, having entered the fray in May, is McKinnley Mitchell.
He takes over as the new PR councillor for wards 65 (Jeppestown, Malvern) and 123 (Doornfontein and surrounds).
“Victor was a seasoned politician and well known in the community. There is no replacing him. He had a lot of institutional knowledge with regards to the City, and how it ran financially. To be taking a position in the City’s finance committee among others, where Penning was instrumental, is quite a privilege,” Mitchell told the EXPRESS.
The incumbent said challenges would include navigating a widespread cluster of communities while familiarising himself with the pressing needs of each one.
“I am still getting to learn the demographics of each area, their structures and the various issues faced by each.
“What I have, however, noticed so far is that there are serious backlogs with service delivery in the areas. Obviously, not being the ward councillor, I am limited to what I am permitted to do within these areas,” said Mitchell.
Despite the constraints, Mitchell said he was committed to making a difference, especially with regards to rampant crime in his wards.
“This is one of the issues that I would like to raise, on the platforms which I can. To tackle the high crime levels in the areas will require work between myself and both the local CPFs and JMPD, to see how we can best resolve this issue.
“There are also issues with regard to illegal dumping and other general service delivery issues that have been ignored for a very long time in the areas.
“I will do what I can in my capacity as a PR councillor to address the service delivery issues that exist in the communities,” he said.
