John Mendelsohn said, “I am in the process of sparking a debate to implement sub-councils.” Sub-councils are a subdivision that has been intergraded recently into the City of Cape Town.
Ward councillors John Mendelsohn, Stephan Moore and Chris Santana feel that the current system in place, where wards have been amalgamated into large regions incorporating several suburbs, has proven ineffective.
Moore said he has often had the wrong roads being tended to while problematic roads with issues like potholes are left unfixed. Santana said in his ward he faces many challenges such as parks not being maintained.
The current system in place is far too big to manage said Moore. Through the breakdown of large wards, it would make it easier to manage them. Santana said, “With the current system in place, councillors wield very little power as they can only make recommendations that do not necessarily have to be implemented.”
“It comes down to allocating budget,” said Moore. All three councillors said if sub-councils are implemented into Johannesburg, councillors who work with the community at a grass root level and are aware of the needs in the different sub-councils, will be able to ensure that funds are allocated to the correct areas of need.
“Currently, the budget is being allocated by someone higher up,” said Moore. He feels the alternative of exploring sub-councils would not only mean allocating funds, but would create a culture of accountability.
Mendelsohn said that if funds are not allocated for the correct matters, it is difficult to track accountability to the relevant parties. According to Mendelsohn, it is not an uncommon occurrence for the wrong roads to be fixed.
“I want to make residents aware that there are alternative forms of governance in the form of sub-councils,” said Mendelsohn. “The practice will benefit the community,” he said. “It is a tried and tested method that has proven to be effective in the City of Cape Town,” said Santana.
