Ward 99 councillor Van Dyk confident of strong community comeback
WARD 99 – This will pass and we will all meet at our usual places to catch up after the lockdown says ward councillor.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to be strong as the lockdown continues.
The lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has been hard to adjust to for people across the world. Businesses have suspended their activities, schools are on pause and everyone is at home waiting for a sign that we will be all right.
Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk is here to remind you that all will be well if we all follow the rules and regulations. The councillor for the suburbs of Linden, Blairgowrie, Robindale and surrounding areas shared some words of hope with the residents and businesses of the ward.
To residents, she expressed, “Remember this illness is so much bigger than you or I – none of us is unique – 7 billion people are living with the same fear as you and I are right now. I take comfort in that the woman sitting alone in her apartment in Spain is thinking of the man living alone in South Africa. We are all together fighting this.”
She advised the public to continue using all the social media apps we have to stay in touch and, ultimately, keep us all alive.
Van Dyk acknowledges that business is going through an incredibly difficult time as they need to pay wages, loans, bills and other expenses. “My heart goes out to all the businesses in my ward as they are the lifeblood, not only in Ward 99 but also in Johannesburg, I say to them hold onto hope.”
She added that when all of this is over, it will be these restaurants, laundromats, salons, bars, tailors, and pet services that people run to catch up on friends and community members.
Van Dyk encouraged all members to stay strong during this time. “I implore all my residents to remain the calm, thoughtful, resourceful and most of all the kind residents that I have come to care for and respect beyond measure.”
She added that the time and ability to learn something new has opened up due to the virus. “Find time to exercise, learn and grow. So many channels have opened up to assist with any online exercise courses, guitar lessons, the art of mindfulness and others.”
The councillor shared a prayer for strength and peace for all the doctors, scientists, nurses, officers and other essential services workers to continue fighting for all of us on the frontline.
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