With the Ward 92 by-election taking place on October 23 (Wednesday), residents of Sunnyridge came together last Wednesday evening to tackle the DA’s nominated councillor candidate, Graham Gersbach.
The meeting, at a home in School Avenue, was organised by the Concerned Citizen Group as the Sunnyridge community was concerned about the Ward 92 by-election as it feels that the area has deteriorated rapidly.
Residents’ major concerns include, but are not limited to, frequent water and electricity outages, the condition of the roads, the safety of the community and escalating crime.
The residents wanted answers from Gersbach on a number of pertinent issues affecting the Sunnyridge area and wanted to know how, if he were to be elected, he would handle and rectify the problems.
The meeting took the form of a question-and-answer session and was led by chairperson of the group Luis Gomes, and Gersbach answered on each point.
Here is a short overview of some of the questions asked and the answers received:
Q: How will the nominee rectify his poor communication skills?
A: Previously when I was a councillor I followed up with both the people and the metro. But if I don’t get back to you, come back to me. I will confirm with people when I receive an issue and give updates when I receive them. My cellphone is on 24 hours a day.
Q: Gravity feed/water outages are a major problem. How will you be addressing this issue to ensure a better water supply?
A: For key issues like this, I want myself, together with the Ward 36 councillor, Wendy Morgan, and the people in our ward committees responsible for infrastructure to do oversight visits and then ask the metro the relevant questions, regarding maintenance of the infrastructure, etc. The water tower is due to be replaced. I also feel residents need to start a committee to deal with issues like the water issue so that it can be pushed from the residents’ side as well.
Q: The generator/power supply is a problem. There are constant outages and diesel is usually not available. How will this issue be addressed?
A: The metro needs to regularly maintain the generator and make sure it has diesel so that residents have water even if there is a power outage.
Q: There is a total decline in infrastructure. There are 30-ton trucks using the roads and there are potholes all over. How will the nominated councillor address these issues?
A: Signs with the maximum tonnage must be put up and potholes reported to the metro. Roads are a standard issue that need to be tackled often, along with other basic infrastructure.
Q: Garbage removal is a disaster. What are your long-term plans to ensure better service?
A: The metro as a whole is a disaster with regard to refuse removal.
Q:Petitions are not fixing anything. Some of the concerned residents have already signed up to 12 petitions. Can the nominated councillor advise what petitions will be replaced with and what his intention is to ensure action rather than petitions?
A: Petitions should be dealt with within six months. You need to push to get them resolved by the petitions committee in council.
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Q: How long after the by-election will the by-election posters be removed?
A: Two weeks.
Q: What are the goals and objectives for the ward and Sunnyridge in particular?
A: Wherever there is a problem I will push and I want things to be resolved quickly so that residents in the ward are happy.
Q: The accounts department in the metro is a nightmare. What will you as the councillor do to ensure better service from it?
A: We could organise “billing days” where officials come and discuss matters with the community.
Q: What is the nominated councillor going to do about the increasing problem of drinking, drug pushers and riffraff at Howe Circle?
A: I know about the problems in the area and would push for an upgrade of the area to get it back to its former glory. It needs to be maintained on a regular basis.
Dawn Schubotz, the secretary of the Concerned Citizen Group, said, “We will hold the councillor accountable as we need change in the area quite soon, with our main issues of water and electricity outages, infrastructure, billing, refuse removal and Howe Circle being top of the list and in need of urgent attention.”
Gersbach told the residents that he is passionate about service delivery and the ward councillor and the community must work together in a partnership to tackle issues in the ward.
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