Centurion ward councillors look back on the year
The biggest challenge this year was the City's financial strains, making it impossible to render quality services to the community.
As the conduit between communities and the metro, Centurion councillors have highlighted challenges they faced and their achievements for this year.
Rekord spoke with ward councillors about their achievements, obstacles and what they are hoping to achieve in the coming year.
Ward 69 councillor Cindy Billson said the biggest challenge she and her ward faced was that they could not get the tools of trade to do the ward’s projects.
“The city’s financial situation is not great. The year was a battle to get staff and resources for service delivery,” Billson added.
She, however, said things were not all doom and gloom, adding that despite challenges they managed to get the sinkhole that developed at Potgieter Road and Clifton Avenue fixed.
“The sinkhole at the corner of Potgieter and Clifton is almost rehabilitated. In council, I had some motions that will improve oversight and consequence management.”
Next year, Billson said she would love to see more streetlights fixed, adding that one of the critical issues was to give residents value for money by providing much-needed service delivery.
She wished all ward 69 residents a healthy and happy festive season.
Ward 57 councillor David Farquharson told Rekord he derived joy from the fact that as the ward they were able to successfully launch a recycling project in Eldoraigne ext. 14, restructure the Rooihuiskraal garden site, grow the new green spaces in the ward such as in Frederik Avenue and Estcourt Avenue.
“I’m very proud of the six steering committees on restricted access projects. They are all community members that are practicing active citizenship, ensuring that their communities are safe.”
Looking into the new year, Farquharson said he would like to see service delivery turnaround time on electricity, water and roads shortened.
Farquharson thanked residents for the support they have shown him, adding that it was an honour for him to lead them.
“We are the change we want to see. Thank you for the support during 2022 it is a privilege to be your councillor and to help grow ward 69 to your expectations. May 2023 be the year that you take active steps to realise your dreams.”
Ward 64 councillor Casper McDonald said the year 2022 was a challenge as the City’s finances made it impossible to render quality service to the community.
McDonald told Rekord the ward battled regular power outages, water leaks, billing and potholes.
“Service delivery remains the biggest challenge. The current state of finances is the main reason for the poor service delivery.
However, the mayor with the assistance of the newly appointed city manager, put measures in place to improve the service level and “to do the best we can with what we have”.
ALSO READ: Spend the new year in Pretoria’s nature havens
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
