How has Wrd 98 behaved during the lockdown? Ward 98 councillor Beverly Weweje shared on her ward and some of the challenges it has it has faced through the weeks.
Weweje explained the ward has quietened down to a snail’s pace with many shops and businesses being closed in adherence to the government regulations. There are also fewer cars on the road and any car spotted usually has only one occupant in. “Fairland and Linden police stations have definitely increased visibility in high crime areas. Fairland SAPS and JMPD have also been assisting in bringing displaced persons to the Windsor West temporary shelter.”
She added that drug pedlars continue with impunity and absolute arrogance and disregard for regulations or authority, as they roam and peddle their drugs from behind locked complex gates, and recently, walking the streets in defiance. “While I know that SAPS has stepped up in their efforts to deal with these matters, I look forward to actual arrest and conviction rates.”
During this time, Weweje has practised physical distancing when interacting with various persons and follows the World Health Organisation recommended practice regarding masks. Since the lockdown, how she goes about her work has had to to change. She shared that oversight on service delivery issues has slowed down dramatically due to many entities working on skeleton staff and also adhering to lockdown regulations. “We are able to escalate and communicate issues pertaining to daily operational service delivery queries (sewerage, refuse collections, etc).”
Adding that council meetings and all other council-related meetings and public meetings have been postponed. However, since, they are navigating new waters, she has had to roll up her sleeves, because it is no longer business as usual as councillors face the humanitarian crises. The government regulation allow for councillors to perform their duties and to serve their residents to the best of their capabilities in these trying times.
In her opinion, the majority of Ward 98 residents have been adhering to the regulations of lockdown. To her residents, Weweje said ‘this is and will be a very trying time for our ward and for us as individuals’.
Though she has no doubt that they will rise above this as residents have rallied around a common cause, a cause to see nobody go hungry. “I have seen residents who have little to give, and I have seen resident that have in abundance give.”
She added that what we are facing defies the borders of race, religion and social standing. “I have seen the true spirit of South Africa and the spirit of Ubuntu in our ward. This is why I believe we will rise stronger and more unified.”
