Editor – I cannot disagree more with the article which appeared in the February 11 edition of the EXPRESS about Clr Alison van der Molen.
Clr van der Molen is the most committed councillor I know. She goes out of her way to help everywhere. I can refer you to the two shack fires which occurred in her ward last year which devastated countless families. Through the efforts of Clr van der Molen and through very few other people in office, the affected people were helped. Clr van der Molen personally takes animals from there to the SPCA.
I know of one instance where she has taken one person to the hospital and I know of two children who she is personally ensuring get through school this year. She puts people and things in her own car and gets them where they need to be and often, late at night, she will deliver things and fetch people.
She attends the Community Police Forum, community business forum and council meetings and holds her own open meetings. To the comment that Clr van der Molen does not live here, firstly, Clr van der Molen is in this suburb six or seven days a week and knows much more about what goes on here than those of us who sit behind our high walls, myself included. And often this is late into the evening.
Secondly, if there is a gripe with the fact that people who do not live in the area are allowed to be councillors, this should be taken up at council legislation level. Council allows it, so it is no use launching a personal campaign against someone. Clr van der Molen is allowed to live where she wants.
It is very easy to sit behind a computer and complain. There is a point I want to make. Clr van der Molen is an opposition councillor. Getting information out of the rest of council is even harder when you are a DA councillor. The community needs to realise something – that we face general systemic failure in Johannesburg, because of an ANC-led council and overwhelming social issues that no one person can overcome.
Look around the whole of Joburg. Do you like what you see? As a city, we have no hope unless we unite and stop fighting the people who are fighting the same fight as us. Clr van der Molen is a committed, kind, hard-working councillor who we are fortunate to have. We have to look at the broader picture here. What kind of results would you have in your own job if most other people in the company were corrupt, wicked and lazy, and were especially unhelpful because they saw you as an outsider – and then everyone else took it out on you? I have been saying for a number of years now that we all, and especially those who are community leaders, need to get over our personal issues with each other. Yes there are those who have personal issues with me. Stop fighting those who are on the same team as us. Stand together in the fight against the problems. It is the viciousness that is our downfall.
Clr van der Molen is a blessing.
Ms Gaynor Paynter,
Kensington.
