WARD councillors in Durban are ready to put plans into action for their respective wards this year.
Ward 31 (Musgrave, Overport, Sydenham) councillor, Chris Pappas, said the past three years had been very exciting and had come with many challenges.
“We have made big strides in various aspects of community development socially and in terms of city services, but we still have a lot of work to do. This year I want to build on the progress we have made since 2016. The list of projects and things to do never gets shorter which sometimes means that good ideas are forgotten or are not given enough attention for them to succeed,” he said.
Pappas said his focus this year would be on the upgrade and resurfacing of Randles Road, the establishment of a ward sports committee and the establishment of a civic forum in Overport to assist with the Overport Revival Project.
He also hopes to focus on bylaw enforcement and supporting Metro Police suburbs division for more resources and the cracking down on illegal land use in the area.
ALSO READ: Development Forum on the cards for Overport, Musgrave
His plans also include increased pressure on the Land Use Management Department to implement their own regulations. Other plans include sourcing funding for the Overport/Sparks traffic impact assessment and precinct plan, the electrification of the Georgehill settlement, finalisation of a housing plan for Lacey Road, the installation of prepaid meters for the residents of Eland House and Marloth Gardens Housing Estate and the allocation of additional budget for DSW to support the city densification strategy.
He also hopes to establish an empowerment forum for previously disadvantaged people looking to become entrepreneurs.
“2019 is set to be an action-packed year. My advice to all is not to believe everything you read or see and make sure you research before forming an opinion. Fake news and divisive issues are all around us. More than ever it is time for South African to unite behind the idea that was the rainbow nation: an idea of a South Africa for all, united in our diversity,” he said.
Councillor Martin Meyer of ward 27 (Musgrave, Morningside, Blue Lagoon) said the year ahead would see him working on finalising the development of Burman Bush together with the newly established Friends of Burman Bush.
“I aim to work together with the community to make this reserve a hub for tourism and for the community to utilise,” he said.
ALSO READ: Burman Bush conservancy on the cards
Meyer said come February, he would be working with his ward committee to establish an employment Facebook page to putting employers in touch with employees living within the ward.
“Since the recycling programme seems to be getting back on track, I would like to sit down with the community to see how we can improve recycling in the ward and come up with ideas to encourage more people to recycle. I will also be focusing on relaunching the lower Morningside CPF and will be capacitating the members in the first few months of the year. There will be a specific focus on hijacking, theft out of and theft of motor vehicles as these crimes are still at unacceptable levels across the whole of the Berea,” he said.
Meyer said he would continue with his street meetings and is planning to meet once a month, where he can have more contact with residents.
“I encourage people to join the Ward 27 Facebook page to find out when meetings will take place and to get involved. I urge residents to attend meetings and actively participate in things in the community that affect them,” he said.
Ward 33 (Glenwood/Umbilo) councillor, Mmabatho Tembe, said she was excited for the new year, and that one of her top priorities would be to work closely with the newly formed Umbilo CPF.
“The community is hungry for an active CPF in the area and I will work to reconnect the police, CPF and the community. The CPF has an important role to play, especially with the increase in prostitution and crime in the area,” she said.
ALSO READ: New CPF committee aims to make a difference
Tembe said her pet project was the revitalisation of the Molder Mews Park in Umbilo and said she had initiated the conversation regarding this revamp and would be working on this during the year.
“A huge problem which still exists in the ward is illegal dumping, which needs urgent intervention. I have asked DSW Education to get involved and will be coordinating this. I have also asked for extra sweep days for high foot traffic areas such as Bartle, Umbilo and Che Guevara Roads. I will also keep an eye on the Parks Department as the weed situation needs to be sorted out. I am also hoping the grass cutting programme will be more streamlined,” she said.
Tembe said she and the ward committee would hold regular street meetings and encouraged residents to join her ward Facebook page.
“I encourage more community participation. Residents must speak to and work with councillors. If we band together there will be change,” she said, adding that residents must email complaints and issues to councillors to ensure a paper trail.
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