Ward councilor Makgoba Pagadi reflects on the year

Makgoba Pagadi of Ward 80 in Rabie Ridge shared his views on the past year and his wishes for the new year ahead.

Pagadi said, “The year 2020 was not good for all South Africans. Under Covid-19 we only had a few months of freedom to work fully. Our lows are that of service delivery which was not met by some of our municipal entities.

“Our highs are that of making sure we improve the lives of our people in informal settlements using the de-densification programme during Covid-19, which was launched by Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo, MMC for Housing Mlungisi Mabaso and Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.”

Pagadi added that for the coming year, he hoped to see more service delivery in the area. “My wish is to make sure that we provide proper service delivery to our community, in both formal and informal settlements. I would love for an upgrade of our sewer system, construction of our roads in Rabie Ridge Ext 5, rates and taxes to be repaid or scrapped, hanging projects to be implemented within the 2020/2021 budget cycle, construction of garden sites in Falcon and Spreeu streets as well as Lesedi Street to be implemented, as was promised to us before the pandemic.”

He said the government should also consider availing municipal and provincial land for community development such as health, rehabilitation and residential facilities. “I would also love to see informal settlements being upgraded and electricity being installed. We need more action to be taken on illegal invasions of land.
“To all of Ward 80 community members and the ward committee members, I would like to wish you a happy Christmas. We are going to a new year which the term of office of council will be lapsing. We need to continue taking care of ourselves and families. All the community stakeholders we worked together with, wish you will come back energised so we push for a better service for our community.”

Related: https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/277579/works-only-begun/