New Northcliff Ratepayers’ Association ready to take up the task of being a voice for their community

For the first time Northcliff will have a group of residents getting together for the good of the community as an official body.

On 28 February, the new Northcliff Ratepayers’ Association will host its first annual general meeting which is the last formality the group has to do before becoming an official association.

Interim association chairperson, Oscar Plange has been a Northcliff resident since 2015. He said he bought property in the area to develop and realised that the area is becoming less desirable to live in and conduct business due to the state of the roads and the lack of maintenance in the area.

“This is one of the reasons why I and other concerned residents formed the NRA. People on the committee are extremely professional,” Plange said.

He said the people on board are professionals in their fields and they can make a difference by using the knowledge they already have in their specific fields for the good of the community.

With regards to politics in a rather polarised City of Johannesburg, Plange said politics are not important when it comes to service delivery, maintenance and community issues.

“The City of Johannesburg is obligated to deliver services residents pay for regardless of the political situation. I understand the difficulties the Democratic Alliance faces when it comes to working with officials from the previous administration. I understand that not all issues faced in the new administration are inherited from the previous one.”

On current issues in the Northcliff community, Plange said, “On top of the list to address as the association would be Northcliff’s continued billing crisis, roads as well as electricity reticulation.”

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According to Plange, the association – although Northcliff based and focused – will accept members from the rest of Ward 88.

“The condition would be that a resident can only do so if they do not have a residents’ association in their suburb. If you’re willing and you have something to offer, you are more than welcome to join.”

Although the association has yet to have their first meeting, it already has a constitution and has held public meetings, community mixers and has created a website.

He invited residents to join them on 28 February for the meeting to hear what the association does, who they are and which processes it will follow to get things done.

Details: northcliff.org.za; oscar@northcliff.org.za; Northcliff Ratepayers’ Association Facebook page

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