What residents can expect from their ward councillors

Ward councillors are elected representatives that sit in the municipal council to speak on behalf of the ward they look after.

The election process occurs once every five years through the local government elections.

In cases of vacant wards, by-elections are conducted.

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A spokesperson for the office of the speaker in Ekurhuleni, Sphelele Nxele, explained the roles of ward councillors include:

• They advance the interests and needs of their constituency and facilitate input between the council and community to strengthen participation in governance processes.

• They can monitor municipal performance in their area and deal with complaints and queries from residents/community members.

• They are also chairpersons of ward committees, which are structures provisioned in the Municipal Structures Act of 1998. These committees have a specific sector focus and as such accommodate the breadth of social issues in different wards.

• As such an integral part of local government, ward clr take an oath office and are also expected to abide by the clr code of conduct which is outlined in Council’s Standing Orders.

Who to report a councillor to:

Nxele added that residents who are unhappy with the conduct of their ward councillors can report the councillor in question to the speaker of the council.

This can be done by sending a letter to the office of the speaker, to Germiston Civic Centre on the corner of Queen and Cross streets.

“The speaker of the council will conduct the necessary investigations into the councillors behaviour of which they will be held accountable, according to the policies of the ethics and integrity committee,” she said.

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Ward councillors in Benoni are:

• Kabelo Mahonko: Ward 24, Jatniel, Rynfield Agricultural Holdings, part of Rynfield, Fairleads Crystal Park Norton Home Estate, Benoni North Agricultural Holdings, Van Ryn Small Holdings, Cloverdene, and Boat Lake Village.
Contact: 072 992 6697.

• Pieter Henning: Ward 25, Areas of Benoni Agricultural Holdings, Petit, part of Brentwood Park, part of Mayfield, Zestfontein, and Putfontein.
Contact: 083 626 3563.

• André du Plessis: Ward 23, Brentwood Park, Northvilla, Goedeburg, part of Benoni North Agricultural Holdings and part of Northmead.
Contact: 083 655 8187.

• Sinethemba Matiwane: Ward 73, Western Extension, Benoni CBD, Mackenzie Park, New Modder, Rynsoord, and Kingsway.
Contact: 082 390 4839.

• Imtiaz Loonat: Ward 29, Actonville, the Wattville Hostel, and Emandleni informal settlement.
Contact: 082 560 8293.

• Lornette Joseph: Ward 27, Morehill, Airfield, Northmead, Ebotse Golf and Country and the bulk of Rynfield. Contact: 083 847 4510

• Mary Goby: Ward 28, Lakefield, Farrarmere and Alphen Park. Contact: 082 679 7109