New councillor takes the helm in Ward 99
Hendrik Bodenstein steps into the role of leadership with a staggering 98% of the vote. With his new role in Ward 99, he aims to regain the public open spaces and revive the ward.
Ward 99 has officially welcomed its newly elected councillor, Hendrik Bodenstein, following a resounding victory in the recent by-elections on April 2. Representing the Democratic Alliance (DA), Bodenstein secured an overwhelming 98.09% of the vote, receiving 3 696 ballots in his favour.
Read more: Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk wishes residents well for the festive season
His nearest competitor, from the African National Congress (ANC), garnered only 1.91% of the vote with 72 ballots cast. Despite a lower voter turnout of 24.2%, Bodenstein’s victory reflects a significant show of confidence from the ward’s residents.
Reacting to his win, Bodenstein expressed both gratitude and determination. “The feeling is overwh elming. One never realises how bad the city is run until you are in the thick of it,” he remarked. “Residents of our city are amazing, and many city employees are amazing and really hardworking.”
With a clear mandate, Bodenstein is wasting no time in tackling pressing issues within the ward. His immediate priorities include reclaiming public open spaces and formalising the role of waste pickers, who he acknowledged as playing a vital role in the community.
“I will be helping the Linden Community Association (LCA) to clean up Emma Park,” Bodenstein said. “We are also encouraging waste pickers to register with the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) to help get their operations organised and formalised.”
Also read: Ward 99s power struggle
He emphasised the importance of collaboration between the council and residents to restore the City of Johannesburg. “Together, with the residents of this city, we can fix what is broken,” he said.
In his role as councillor, Bodenstein has pledged to hold city officials accountable for poor service delivery and to address backlogs of unresolved issues left unattended by various city entities.
Bodenstein extended his heartfelt thanks to the DA team and the voters of Ward 99. “Thank you for putting your faith in me, and thank you for your support. I am humbled to step in as your councillor and I will serve our community, and our great city, to the best of my ability.”
He also paid tribute to former Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk who served the community for the past nine years. “Nicole has done an exceptional job in this ward, and I look forward to continuing the work she began.”
With enthusiasm, and a clear vision for service delivery and community engagement, Bodenstein steps into his new role with the support of the people and the promise of proactive leadership.
Details: Hendrik Bodenstein, 082 928 8406.
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