We are on our own

I had to gather my courage to write this letter.

Since being elected as a ward councillor for my second term, it has not been an easy ride. I realised every politician that says things will get better in SA is telling lies.

If you are a duly elected ward councillor, you have an obligation to your voters who elected you in. In most cases, it is the same people who elected you that are insulting you daily because of their frustrations. Boy, oh boy, being a councillor means having thick skin. When I took on the role as ward councillor, I did not realise I am becoming a woman with a lot of professional skills, like being a 24-hour call centre agent for JMPD, SAPS, City Parks, JRA, Joburg Water, and the best one, City Power, and not forgetting being a social worker as well.

Joburg is known as a world-class African city. I have to laugh at this vociferous joke.

The inner-city has become a city of darkness and crime. Everywhere you drive in Gauteng, the potholes are as huge as jacuzzis. Motorists have to be extra careful not to damage their vehicles. Traffic lights are being stolen from the ground in daylight.

I have reported on numerous occasions to JRA, but to them, it is just another complaint.

Our grass is so tall, I fear the day when City Parks cuts the grass in Eugene Marais Street, Elandspark, Southern Klipriviersberg Road, South Hills, to name a few streets, that something awful will be discovered.

Joburg Water comes out to fix leaks and leaves holes or the tar damaged for months.

Power outages from City Power have become a way of life for us.

Any satisfaction derived from community involvement is seen as none. What ratepayers expect and what they receive is zero. We expect clean drinking water, electricity, clean parks and verges with roads and pavements in a good state. Yet, grass, weeds, potholes, crime and vagrants loitering, including dumping on pavements, have become a part of our daily living.

I get asked daily what I am going to do about it. My answer is: What are we going to do about it? Our plea is falling on deaf ears. We can complain as much as we like, but we are on our own. No one takes accountability or does follow-ups on services logged.

It is time we look after our areas. Let us unite and have clean-up campaigns, grass-cutting campaigns and start doing things for ourselves.

Getting things done at local government requires effort and hair on your teeth.

I still have hope that things will come right, but not in this century.

The previous government has left too much work unfinished. It will take the current government a long time to get the basics right in the City of Joburg.

The metro buildings in Braamfontein are an eyesore. Driving up Rissik Street in the CBD, you notice the buildings on the right are surrounded by homeless people. They are there for months, if not years, yet everyone notices and just carry on with their daily lives.

Strength grows the moment you can’t go on, but you keep going anyway.

Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame – 081 329 7424