Ekurhuleni Speaker urges residents to show respect to councillor
The speaker said the role of a councillor is to serve the people.
Ward 39 residents have voiced growing frustration over the lack of service delivery, leading to calls for Ward 39 Clr Jean Ingram to step down.
The complaints from the community include persistent power outages lasting for days and unresolved water issues, with residents alleging that Ingram favours certain areas over others.
The Germiston City News spoke with the speaker of council, Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, about the mounting dissatisfaction.
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She acknowledged the challenges in Ward 39 and assured that the council is offering Ingram the necessary support to address the issues.
“Councillors are elected to represent their communities and act as a bridge between the residents and local government.
“Their role is to advocate for the community’s interests and bring their concerns to the council,” Tshivhenga explained.
However, the speaker clarified that there is no motion of no confidence against Ingram.
“A councillor can only be replaced if they resign, pass away, or are withdrawn by their party,” she said, adding that she has met with Ingram to discuss the situation and has planned an induction to improve communication.
She also stressed the need for respect from the residents, noting that councillors often face mental strain from verbal abuse.
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“Civic education is essential. Councillors are responsible for overseeing local government operations and holding the administration accountable, but they can only do their job effectively if the residents show respect,” Tshivhenga said.
In response, Ingram acknowledged the residents’ frustrations and reiterated her commitment to serving the ward.
“I understand their concerns and am fighting for them daily.
“My door is always open, and I encourage the residents to approach me with their issues and solutions,” Ingram said, assuring the Ward 39 residents that she is working tirelessly to improve service delivery.
The city apologised for the service disruptions and is working to improve its response times to the residents’ needs.
