After serving as a PR councillor for Ward 124, DA candidate councillor Tyrell Meyers was elected as Ward 23 councillor with 88 per cent support.
This is an improvement from the elections last held in this ward, where the DA obtained 81 per cent.
He told the CHRONICLE he had hopes he might win the elections but being in politics anything can happen.
“I always choose to remain humble and wait for the final results to see if I have made it or not. When the results came in I was delighted. I felt the mandate was strong to win with 88 per cent.
“What I am most proud of in the DA is that there has been consistent growth in the by-elections in Johannesburg South. All our councillors in the south are quite visible and they do a job well when it comes to service delivery,” explained Meyers.
A passion for people
Meyers previously stood for Ward 124 in the 2016 local government elections, coming in as a PR councillor. He was allocated to wards that are not particularly for DA to build structures and getting to know some of the community concerns.
“I have been looking after that ward. Having to hear people’s concerns on what they need and what to improve. With a lack of service delivery, we assisted the people where we can. I am passionate about people. I am a self-motivated person and when I first came into government in 2011 as a PR councillor, I was already helping people.
I was very involved in the Ward 124 community and building relationships with different stakeholders in the Joburg, like City Power, JRA, Joburg Water.”
Meyers said he aims to make a difference in people’s lives from all parts of areas he is involved in.
“We owe it to our voters to get the best services they could get.”
It has been a great privilege and honour to be given the opportunity by the residents, and obviously, there are expectations. Working together will make things easier with service delivery.
“Since the 100 days standing in the ward, there are a lot of projects that already have been accomplished. I have been very busy with the ward and I will continue bringing service delivery the best I can.
“Compared with the ward I was previously representing, I wish to push for service delivery in Ward 23 quite hard. The biggest challenge with Ward 124 was social economics. Ward 124 is more of a depressing ward where there is a lot of poverty. It is not a wealthy ward but more working class,” said Meyers.
Serious about service delivery
He said with Ward 23, their social economy is different than Ward 124
“Everyone thinks at Ward 23 there is not much work because of its improvement. That is not true. There is a lot that needs to be tackled. When I first started the number of potholes was absurd, the state of the roads, long grass and other areas was a mess.
“There were things that needed to be done and we started on that. We aim to see the City investing and improving infrastructures. We want it to be a safe, clean and thriving community. The ward is full of tourism attractions. We need to take care of it,” he said.
He is happy they are taking the service delivery seriously. There have been complaints that some of the things were not done. Some street lights are not being fixed for two years, water leaks outside the clinic, and grass not being taken care of. But since in office, he is to make sure everything is been taking care of.
“I was not involved in seeing the previous councillor. I think her work must just speak for itself. I am just picking up from here and finding a way forward.”
He plans to push service delivery as fast as he can. There is still a lot of work they need to accomplish.
“I want to elevate and make things work. I am enjoying the ward so far and as long the residents are happy I am also happy. I plan to improve more and make this ward world-class,” said Meyers.
In his spare time
As much as he is hands-on and a hard worker in the communities, Meyers also like spending his time in the gym as well and also taking long drives.
“Taking long drives helps me a lot when I want to think by myself. I also like socialising, going to braais and enjoying people’s company. It’s not only about politics especially when I am not busy,” said Meyers.
