Ward 105 ANC councillor Joyce Ngwenya, who did not retain her seat in the 2016 Municipal Elections, bowed out gracefully when she joined hundreds at KwaBhekilanga Secondary School casting their votes.
Ngwenya said she wished the best of luck to the new councillor and requested that they summon all their energy to serve the people, to listen to them and understand their needs. “The position is for serving the people and not for you [the councillor].”
She committed to share her experiences and information with the incoming councillor in the interest of continuity and the community.
Ngwenya recounted her challenges which she said were overshadowed by successes which needed to be consolidated. “The successes include the construction of thousands of houses, halls, stadium, swimming pool, parks, schools, bridges and a new mall under construction,” she said.
One of the challenges, she added, was the delay by bureaucracy in allocating completed houses, in particular, the Bohlabela Phase 2 Flats which remained unoccupied for almost two years resulting in protests and accusations of incompetence on her part. “Another more serious challenge is the delayed issuing of title deeds to the elderly who should see their housing rights affirmed while still alive.”
Ngwenya urged the incoming councillor to consider prioritising the establishment of a mobile police station to deal with escalating crime, install lights at public spaces as a crime deterrent and to escalate all aspects of service delivery in general.
