Following the by-election in Ward 43 on May 19, Carolana (Lana) Marais of the DA has been inducted as the new ward councillor for Ward 43.
The ward consists of areas such as Sunward Park, Freeway Park, Klipoortjie, Groeneweide, Windmill Park and Dawn Park.
Marais started her career at Edu College in Welkom as a computer studies and life skills teacher. She then joined Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifiziering van Managementsystemen as an environmental auditor and is now the MD of the IQM Group.
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She formed part of the IMS Auditor in Frankfurt, Germany, Quality Institute for Australia Botsoc Society, IAIA and CAIR, where she is the chairperson.
According to Marais, she is confident she is ready to be the new ward councillor.
“I’m extremely excited. I have an environmental background and I believe it’s going to help me deal with the failing infrastructure that is a problem in the community. I reside in Kempton Park, but I’m still in Ekurhuleni. I’m fully aware of the challenges within the ward,” she said.
The new ward councillor is going to focus on the following aspects:
• Service delivery: “I will assist residents by lodging complaints with the municipality. I will follow up on the progress and provide feedback on the outcome. I’m going to be an intermediate between residents and council. Community members pay rates and taxes and deserve proper service delivery.”
• Job creation: “I will empower our youth through skills to promote entrepreneurship. I will invite professional mentors from different industries to impart skills to our youth.”
• Sewer maintenance: “I will address the maintenance of the sewer infrastructure urgently. Sewer poses a health risk and is also leaching into our environment, causing pathogens (germs) to land up in the food chain.”
• Electricity: “I will educate the residents on energy management and how to save costs on monthly bills. I will encourage alternative lighting sources like solar rechargeable devices and to replace current light bulbs with LED.”
Marais said community members are always welcome to contact her on 082 924 6430 or at lanam@da.org.za
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