Hart ready to live up to community’s expectations

Following the results of the municipal elections, Ward 18 alderman Heather Hart is ready to face her third term as councillor and the backlog of service delivery issues with renewed vigour.

Hart received 79.23% of support from voters in Ward 18.

Hart described being re-elected as a ‘fantastic vote of confidence from the residents’.

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“I am humbled to have been re-elected, I have received hundreds of congratulatory messages and I hope I can continue to live up to the expectations of the residents.”

Besides being re-elected, Hart said receiving the title of alderman at the last sitting of the City of Ekurhuleni Council, before the elections, was special.

Hart was one of several councillors who received the alderman title.

She said the title is presented to councillors in recognition of their hard work and who have met the requirements of the Alderman Policy.

Although she is grateful to serve her community once more, Hart said since becoming a councillor in 2011 it has become apparent that as the service delivery system deteriorated, residents started relying more on ward councillors to assist them with service delivery matters.

“This has put a responsibility on us as councillors, which at times conflicts with our legislative work.”

Hart said with the start of her third term, she looks forward to working with the community and finding innovative solutions to address the service delivery issues.

Hart hopes to focus on several major projects she has highlighted in addition to the daily service delivery complaints she receives.

First on the list is renewing the rehabilitation of the Illiondale Wetland.

Hart believes the project, which she started driving several years ago, is important as the wetland is one of the few semi-functional wetlands in the City of Ekurhuleni region.

“It is a beautiful area and needs to be preserved,” said Hart.

“If it is properly rehabilitated and maintained, it can become such an asset to Illiondale and Edenvale.”

Secondly, are her plans to continue to oppose the traffic plans of the Modderfontein Township Development.

The development, which Hart previously described as a mini-gated community, is situated on portion 36 of the farm Modderfontein 35 IR, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.

Hart explained that if approved, as it stands, the development’s construction could result in an additional 1 000 vehicles on the roads of Illiondale.

“Cecil Awret Road was never designed for that many vehicles. It’s unrealistic. It would destroy the suburb, its infrastructure and create additional traffic.”

Hart also hopes to obtain guidance and direction about what can feasibly be done to restore Horwood’s Farm Homestead.

Another project Hart will drive to be implemented in Hurlyvale, Highway Gardens and Buurendal is the implementation of the Stormwater Master Plan.

She said the plan, which includes the remediation of St Andrew Road Bridge, the construction of several attenuation ponds and remediation of stormwater infrastructure, was proposed several years ago but has been held back by a lack of budget.

Last on her list of priority projects is to give attention to Edenvale Sports Grounds.

“With the assistance of the community, I want to rejuvenate the sports grounds on the terms of the community.”
She highlighted that the new tenants of the skatepark are a welcome addition to the municipal grounds.

Other projects that are in the pipeline for the sports grounds include the construction of an indoor basketball court and a pump track.

Besides the large projects identified by Hart, she will continue addressing the day-to-day service delivery complaints, ranging from water leaks, potholes, homeless, street sweeping and illegal land use.

Hart may be contacted on 082 902 1834 or at heather.hart@ekurhuleni.gov.za or hhart@netactive.co.za

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