The DA’s Graham Gersbach was recently voted in as the new ward councillor for Ward 92 after a by-election in the area.
According to the IEC, the party retained the seat it won in the 2016 municipal elections, with 83.12 per cent of the votes cast compared to 78.82 per cent in the 2016 municipal elections.
The voter turnout at the by-election was 23.87 per cent.
“I thank the voters who took the time and trouble to vote and put their trust in me.
“I commit myself to serve, to the best of my ability, the interests of all the residents of Ward 92,” said Gersbach.
“I have worked in the public and private sector and I have gained an array of skills, which I believe will aid me in serving the residents of the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).”
Gersbach has held a number of positions career-wise over the years including external audit clerk, internal auditor, financial accountant, financial manager, company secretary and business analyst.
“I also served as PR councillor from September 2010 to May 2011, ward councillor for Ward 92 (previous demarcation) from 2011 to 2014 and as a DA member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) from May 2014 to May 2019.
“I served on finance, roads and transport and rules committees in the metro and on SCOPA, roads and transport, SHRAC (alternate) and the ad-hoc committee on budget legislation in the GPL,” Gersbach said.
“It has always been my passion to serve the community and represent voters’ interests in government.”
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As the new ward councillor for Ward 92 Gersbach’s immediate priorities for the ward will be:
• General infrastructure maintenance, including getting more urgent responses to water leaks, water and electricity outages, roads and sidewalk rehabilitation after repairs are carried out, rehabilitating roads that are poorly maintained and pothole and other road repairs.
• Tackling the ongoing water and electricity outages throughout the ward.
• Address the fact that the standby generator at the Windsor Road water pump station does not function as it should.
• The Korhaan Street Sunnyridge Water Tower needs to be replaced as a matter of urgency, and until then, the existing water tower needs to be refurbished and properly maintained on an ongoing basis to ensure that constant long-term water outages do not occur.
• Engage with Rand Water and metro officials to improve communication and find out why there are ongoing supply problems.
• The building of a new Klopper Park Clinic on identified council land and making the Klopper Park Community Centre more functional in its intended function.
• Pursuing the implementation of all projects on the IDP for the ward.
• Address stormwater issues throughout the ward, especially those affecting Buurendaal, Elandsfontein and Woodmere.
• Tackling crime and substance abuse throughout the ward, especially around Howe Circle, abandoned municipal and other government buildings, parks and railway stations in the ward.
• Improving public participation in municipal and other government matters throughout the ward by keeping residents informed through regular community meetings and other means of communication as and when the need arises.
“I will be working very closely with residents, fellow councillors, metro officials and colleagues in other spheres of government to ensure effective service delivery for the residents of Ward 92,” Gersbach said.
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