It requires tact and impartiality when balancing competing social, political and economic interests and expectations.
This was said on 19 March by councillor Lilian Kekana of Ward 109. Her ward is a mix of poor and rich areas, and includes 14th to 19th Avenue, Alexandra and Setswetla informal settlement, parts of Marlboro and its industries, Kelvinview, Kramerville, Sandown, Wendywood and Gallo Manor.
“I account to my constituency through quarterly and ad hoc meetings and am a bridge between residents and service providers but don’t control the financial and human resources of service providers,” said Kekana.
“The community doesn’t know this and instead blames us [councillors] for delays in service delivery. Other delays are caused by under staffing, especially in the housing inspectorate department – but still we [councillors] are blamed.”
She also added that there was a distinction in how the two groups of residents in her constituency engaged with her which may create an impression of partiality.
“Problems raised by suburban residents are resolved quicker as they use technology to contact me, others forward their complaints to council departments directly, while some engage me through rate payers or civic associations,” she explained.
“While township residents have to travel to my office using limited resources and this discourages them, resulting in their problems accumulating. However some township residents like in Setswetla have devised a strategy of a youth committee which has improved my interaction with them.
“The committee is a channel for better communication between me and those residents. They have even stopped the construction of more shacks after the relocation of some residents to a new and clean housing scheme sponsored by Gift of the Givers.”
Other areas like Marlboro Transit Camp and Marlboro Village also have formed helpful committees, she said. Kekana believes she has done well for her ward. She noted examples of the extension of Wendywood Clinic, the installation of water pipes in Morningside Manor, street lights in Gallo Manor, Morningside and Wendywood, road resurfacing in Kelvin, the installation of electricity in Alexandra shacks and the approval of a budget to extend the Thoko Mngoma Clinic in Marlboro.
Her major concerns are unhygienic toilets, old and decaying houses in Alexandra which will add further pressure for new housing developments, illegal electricity connections especially in Marlboro industries, poor bylaw enforcement with illegal businesses, shebeens, dumping, gambling and crime, and drug and alcohol abuse by teenagers.
Contact: Councillor Lilian Kekana; 082 484 6762.
