A send-off of 2021 from Ward 86 councillor
WARD 86 – Your councillor, Chantelle Fourie-Shawe, shares her words on how the year was and what she hopes for her community.
It’s the festive season and this time calls on all of us to take a much-needed break and spend it with people we love.
Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe’s festive message to the community is for everyone to be safe, especially when it comes to consuming alcohol and being on the roads. “Be extra vigilant, when it comes to your personal property, we all know criminals are extra brazen at this time.”
She added that in this time she hopes people help look out for their neighbours as it always works out for the best when we all look out for one another. “If we know our neighbours’ names and have their numbers, and their routine, we can more easily spot potential issues.
“Take a breather, we have been through one hell of a year – with elections, Covid-19 and many have experienced job loss, we have just all been through so much, and if we can spend as much time with family as they are our pillars. Let’s find strength in our family and friends as well as our community.”
Though she has only been a councillor in the ward for the past month, she said that some highlights were how she saw people work together in great times of need. “When we had a prolonged water outage, people came together with some allowing access to water via their boreholes and opened their homes, it was really amazing to see how people worked together.”
A community hero for her would certainly be Linda Verwey, and the various group admins on WhatsApp have made her job easier as it has become one of the main methods of communication. “These admins are amazing in helping to inform people and keep the communication line flowing.”
Though she said she had only just started, there is still so much for her to learn, which she is very excited about.
Councillor Fourie-Shawe ended by thanking her family and friends who have been amazing in supporting her through this time.
