According to ward councillor Neuren Pietersen, 2019 was a year of many flavours, ranging from the sweet taste of success to the bitter taste of blame and betrayal.
“The end of our first quarter of 2019, the end of September, marked the most successful quarter of our coalition government in Johannesburg.
“We had managed to spend 27 per cent of our capital expenditure budget for the year,” he said.
He said this was a marked improvement on the comparable quarters of 2017 and 2018 when only nine per cent of the budget was spent in this time.
“What these numbers mean is that the money allocated for resurfacing roads and upgrading the electricity and water systems was being spent in a way that makes a positive difference to the lives of the residents of Johannesburg.
“In Ward 118 this was shown by the successful resurfacing of over 12km of roads from Linksfield to Kensington and the fencing in of Bruma Park, as well as the upgrading of the sewer system in Ward 66, which directly impacts the river system in Ward 118.
“We also saw the ongoing upgrading of the electrical network in Malvern and Kensington,” he said.
Pietersen said improved operational expenditure was also visible through the more visible park and roadway maintenance.
“The taste of victory was soon replaced by bitter betrayal when Mayor Mashaba chose to threaten this recipe of success by taking the cake out of the oven too early.
“His quitting has meant that the direction will now be shifted and new priorities will be established.
“It is a shame that the seat was too hot for him and he abandoned the residents of Johannesburg.”
“But the future will tell who will be doing most of the eating.
“We will be able to see it by the quality of service we receive,” he said.
Pietersen said plans for 2020 are that the JMPD and general by-law enforcement will show marked improvement in terms of building and zoning compliance.
With the help of the residents, residents’ associations and community policing forums, crime and disregard for the by-laws will be tackled successfully in 2020.
“The upgrade of the Cleveland substation should be going ahead once the hiccups between the contractors are resolved. This will help to stabilise the power supply in large parts of Kensington and Malvern. The Department of Public Works will hopefully begin the overdue upgrade of the Cleveland Police Station.
“Also, the Malvern and Fairview fire stations have finally received fire engines, which is a great relief as they had been without for over four years. “There has been a significant reduction in billing queries and I continue to assist residents who have reached a dead end when it comes to the resolution of such,” said the ward councillor.
Pietersen said the council was going to be a new experience from the opposition benches.
“There will be no rest for the new mayor and his team as we in the DA will be holding them accountable and will not rest in pursuit of good governance for the City of Johannesburg.
“As we start the new year, I want to thank those of you who contributed to making tomorrow better than today. To those who considered their neighbour in their actions, to those who respected our shared space and left it in a condition that one would like to find it, your community, the ward and Johannesburg appreciate it. The new year brings in a new working environment.
“New leaders are tasked with setting the course. The course chosen determines how needs are prioritised and resources are allocated. It is my pledge to you that I will continue to highlight the issues and dreams of Ward 118 so that the gateway to Johannesburg is not overlooked in the hallways of the executive,” he said.
