Ward 17 Clr Simon Lapping described 2023 as a devastating year.
Reflecting on the year, Lapping spoke about the 2022 Christmas Eve explosion in Boksburg, which claimed the lives of more than 40 people.
“This had a devastating emotional effect not just on myself but on thousands of people who were affected not just directly but indirectly as well.
“To everyone affected, you are not forgotten and are in my prayers daily,” he said.
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Lapping said he had seen many challenges arise in his ward.
“Illegal dumping has been a scourge in my ward, and I was involved in tracing some of those responsible.
“New bus stops have been built around Kempton Park for the still-incomplete BRT bus system.
“The general approach to constructing these bus stops was not to my expected standard. We still have a street light in a bus stop,” said Lapping.
He added that residents were negatively affected by the lack of maintenance on water infrastructure, and repairs took a long time.
“Load-shedding has had a devastating effect with continuous outages due to infrastructure failures. I feel Eskom needs to take responsibility for this,” he added.
“Streetlight repairs have become non-existent.
“Kempton Park CBD is flooded under sewerage and filth because the municipality fails to resolve the problem,” said Lapping.
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He said criminality had become the order of the day, with smash and grabs continually occurring at the intersection of Plane and Pretoria roads.
“We are fast becoming a broken city.
“On a positive note, Isando Road has finally been opened to traffic, and load-shedding has been suspended in Spartan, saving thousands of jobs.”
“I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas with their families and that we will have a wonderful 2024 with change taking place in May 2024,” said Lapping.
