A call for active citizens to step forward in Emmarentia
Emmarentia residents association held its AGM and gave a comprehensive report to the community about issues affecting the area.
The Emmarentia Residents Association (ERA) recently held its annual general meeting to give feedback to th community on issues affecting them.
Chairperson Ayanda Mjekula said, “South Africa is a broken country. Roads, railways, water, and other infrastructure is crumbling. What is needed to remedy this, is active citizens like those of you here tonight and the many more who could not attend this evening.”
An overview of positive developments was presented to the well-attended meeting which emphasised the importance of civil society like residents associations and other groups working together with formal structures in the city.
Successes included fixing the sewerage leek emanating from the Checkers delivery area into the dam and making submissions to the City for Joburg Water to replace old pipes.
They are also facilitating submissions for the proposed mixed-use development along Barry Hertzog Avenue and Linden Road which will now, as a result, go before a tribunal. Miekula said, “The ERA engaged lawyers to represent objectors and the city had approved the application, but not the full rights they applied for.”
A comprehensive report was given on the state of policing in the precinct which falls under the Parkview police. Parkview CPF chairperson Geraldine Connell said, “The situation is largely positive. After many years of working with a station commander who was not proactive, we are running to keep up with Colonel Devan Govender.”
She said that although crime appeared to be worse than it was this time last year, it is under control.
To better understand the complex issues around the many homeless living in green spaces, Colleen Rood from Friends of Alberts Farm, and Mary Gillet-de Klerk from the Joburg Organisation for Services to the Homeless (Josh) made a presentation at the meeting.
Rood said, “One cannot destroy people’s belongings and homes and expect them to respect you. Working with Josh and local government is the only way forward.”
Josh has set up a drop-in all-day centre which has a social worker, has a skills development programme, showers and a safe overnight space. It is a place that they hope will be set up in more communities. This is an ongoing issue that will continue to be front and centre of the work the ERA does.
Mjekula urged residents to join ERA and become active citizens ‘to help fix our broken country’. To join or find out more please email info@era.org.za
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