New councillor committed to enhancing Ward 87

Kyle Jacobs has been elected as the new representative for Ward 87 in the City of Johannesburg Council, taking over from Bridget Steer, following her resignation in late May.

Jacobs, who previously served as a PR councillor and acted as the interim councillor during the transition, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the residents.

Read more: Ward 87s councillor candidates

In the two months since his election, Jacobs has worked diligently to address various pressing issues faced by the community. He provided support during challenging circumstances, including water shortages caused by maintenance work from Rand Water and extensive power outages that affected multiple areas.

“We have tirelessly followed up with the city to resolve these issues and improve communication to keep residents informed,” Jacobs stated.
He has also collaborated with residents to initiate several key projects aimed at tackling significant concerns,, such as problematic properties and vagrancy in the ward.

“A lot of good work has been done, and many great initiatives have been started,” he noted, emphasising his commitment to seeing these efforts through.
Having engaged closely with the community, Jacobs quickly identified the most critical issues impacting the ward and developed an action plan to address them.

Also read: Ward 88 residents protest lack of service delivery and corruption

The plan includes:

• Reliable water supply: Advocating for the timely completion of projects like the Brixton reservoir and tower and pushing for funding for the Hursthill 2 reservoir.
• Electricity and power outages: Pressuring City Power to allocate more resources to address ongoing infrastructure issues and improve response times to outages.
• Addressing problem properties: Working with residents to enforce zoning regulations and by-laws, ensuring a developmental approach that mitigates pollution and enhances the quality of life.
• Road infrastructure: Actively tracking and pushing for timely reinstatements of roads in collaboration with community initiatives and holding the Johannesburg Roads Agency accountable.
• Tackling vagrancy and crime: Implementing a coordinated approach with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and South African Police Service (SAPS) to address crime and vagrancy effectively.

Jacobs acknowledged the demanding nature of the councillor role, balancing multiple responsibilities, including serving as the Constituency chairperson and treasurer of the DA Caucus in Johannesburg.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining mental and physical health to avoid burnout, which can hinder effective performance in such a challenging position.

As the new councillor for Ward 87, he is committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by each area within the ward. Driven by a passion for helping people, he aims to foster a supportive and thriving community for all residents.

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Related article: Candidates running for Ward 88