RICK Crouch will continue on as the Ward 10 councillor for the next five years, as he garnered more than 90 per cent of the votes for his ward.
The final result was 90.89 per cent, almost a 4 per cent increase on the 2011 results. According to Rick Crouch, the only other contender was the ANC and the party only received 6.6 per cent of the vote, a 4 per cent decrease on the 2011 results. “We achieved the highest vote count in the municipality, even Durban North and Umhlanga trailed us with 84.86 per cent and 77.46 per cent respectively,” said an elated Rick Crouch. “Our turnout at voting stations was outstanding, we averaged no lower than 75 per cent at some and one voting station achieved a 90 per cent turnout.”
“Although we have the same number of registered voters, ward 10 is geographically smaller this term as the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) removed the entire Hillcrest from ward 10 and Hillcrest is now split between wards 7 and 8, both ANC wards. So ward 10 now comprises of Kloof, Gillitts, Everton and Winston Park,” said Crouch.
He noted that the ward has been classified as a maintenance ward, whereas a few other wards in upper highway have been classified as developmental wards. “What that means is that there are no major municipal projects planned for the ward such as housing or new roads. The only developments that we will see will be projects by private developers,” said Crouch.
“I intend to focus on illegal development, illegal businesses and the general upkeep of the ward including roads and sidewalks. Illegal signage has become a huge problem, mostly because the city has not renewed contracts with the signage removal contractors in almost a year.
“Please do not use businesses that advertise illegally with illegal signage as it is a disadvantage to those businesses that do it the right way. Once again I would like to thank the voters of Ward 10 for their confidence in me and the DA, and ensure those that did not vote for me that I am their councillor as well and as in the past five years, I will continue to treat them equally. I would also like to thank the team of volunteers and activists, led by Jeanne Middlebrook. Without them this would not have been possible,” said Crouch.
