Hart shares her plans for ward 18
"Edenvale was known as the Jewel of the East. I want it to go back to that."
After the August 3 Local Government Elections, Heather Hart has been re-elected to be the councillor for ward 18 in Edenvale.
“I feel very humble and privileged to be re-elected as the ward 18 councillor,” said the councillor-elect.
“I have dedicated my life to ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities in life, so both Edenvale and the country can grow,” said Hart.
She said the community has been a driving force behind her desire to improve Edenvale.
“I was raised to be a community activist,” said Hart, whose mother was a founding member of the Black Sash Freedom Movement.
“I cannot sit back and do nothing. There is a lack of adequate service delivery in the community, even though members of the community pay money to the municipality. It is an injustice,” said Hart.
Hart is thankful for her re-election and is hoping to continue working on some of her previous projects that she had initiated while being the ward 18 councillor between 2011 and 2016.
Some of the projects Hart hopes to continue and see finished in her new term include:
- The repairing and installation of new components at the Illiondale outfall sewer. “The Illiondale sewerage station cannot currently handle the amount of waste that passes through it and overflows into the nearby Illiondale Wetland,” she said.
- The rehabilitation of the Illiondale wetlands that have been affected by the overflowing of sewage from the sewerage station situated in Illiondale.
- Maintaining Horwood’s Farm and improving security at the Edenvale park. Hart said although there are three security guards at Horwood’s Farm, she hopes she will receive more help from both the SAPS and the EMPD to improve security at Horwood’s Farm.
- The restoration, preservation and future use of the Homestead, the only recognised heritage site in Edenvale, located at Horwood’s Farm.
- Protecting the Edenvale Sports Grounds from the proposal made by the EMM to lease the sports grounds to a third party.
- The creation of a tree pruning team who would maintain and look after the trees in Edenvale.
- Renewing and maintaining infrastructure such as the storm water drains, the roads and pavements in Edenvale.
- Reducing the amount of litter in Edenvale.
Hart, who is passionate about protecting the environment, believes by reducing the amount of litter in Edenvale it will reduce the amount of litter that enters the water networks.
“Litter is the scourge of Edenvale. I am concerned by the amount of rubbish that does not end up in the bin or landfills. Edenvale was known as the Jewel of the East. I want it to go back to that and be pretty and clean,” said Hart.
“I would like to think that the efforts made by myself and Bill Rundle have prevented Edenvale from falling over the edge and deteriorating like other towns in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, such as Boksburg and Benoni,” said Hart.
During her previous term as councillor for ward 18, Hart said one of the biggest challenges she faced was community members not knowing the bylaws and regulations that help govern and maintain the municipality.
By working on some of her proposed goals and paying attention to the finer details in the community, Hart hopes to improve the Edenvale community and town.
If residents of ward 18, which includes Sebenza, Hurlyvale, Edenvale, Edenglen, Edenglen Extension 3, Isandovale and Illiondale, need to get in contact with Hart they can do so by phoning her on 082 902 1834.
Alternatively, send an email to hhart@netactive.co.za
