New MMC for Community Safety share festive wishes
“The amazing thing, though, is that on the eve of the end of the year, there is Christmas. In this depressing and uncertain time, we need the message of Christmas.”
Growing service delivery issues on the back of a heated local municipal election were some of the challenges that the Tshwane council faced in 2021.
This was according to newly elected MMC for Community Safety and Tshwane Freedom Front Plus leader Grandi Theunissen, who sent out festive season messages to residents.
Speaking on behalf of FF Plus PR councillors in Tshwane and reflecting on the year 2021, Theunissen said “2021 was a complicated year of constraints, uncertainty, sadness, fear, anger, frustration, loss, polarisation, challenges, and problems.
“Less than a month into our term as newly elected councillors, the community in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria was hit by a catastrophic fire that left the Mooikloof substation in ruins,” he said.
“This is the second similar disaster in the area after the recent fire at the Wapadrand substation. As if that was not bad enough, we encountered other major electrical faults at the Wapadrand and Moreleta Park substations at the same time.
“The problems at substations are a major challenge for the metro council and require urgent attention. The FF Plus councillors in Tshwane requested that an audit be conducted at all substations to identify maintenance problems and to prevent similar incidents.”
He said the FF Plus’ goals for the next year were to improve service delivery to their communities.
“One of the other big tasks is to review the entire management model of the metro council to not only make it more streamlined and effective, but also technologically modernise to function better and smarter.
“Given the current financial situation in the country and the Tshwane metro, it is not going to be an easy task. It will take fine balancing to achieve the set goals.
“For the FF Plus, it was a year of growth, success, and hard work.”
On a personal level, Theunissen said each resident certainly had their challenges during the year and therefore it is now time for introspection.
“The amazing thing, though, is that on the eve of the end of the year, there is Christmas. In this depressing and uncertain time, we need the message of Christmas.
“Christmas is a celebration of joy that brings a message of hope. Every Christmas, God confirms His promise of hope. God sent His Son into the world to die for our sins. If Jesus is our source of hope, there is eternal light at the end of the dark tunnel,” he said.
He quoted Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”.
“May you all enjoy a Merry Christmas with your loved ones. Our wish is that the community during this time will reach out to those who are alone and needy.”
He wished those who were going to travel a pleasant journey and well-deserved rest.
“May you return safely.
“Let’s pray that 2022 will be a much better year where the best of 2021 will be the worst of 2022.”
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