David Potter will take time to pursue personal interests

After 20 years in politics and 12 years as a ward councillor, David Potter (37) will now take some time off to pursue personal interests. Potter resigned at the end of May with three years left until the end of his term in 2026.

“I am already feeling healthier and more relaxed,” he told Randburg Sun. “I’ll probably start cycling again as well. It has been a while since I rode the 947.”
Potter was the ward councillor for Ward 102, which covers much of Blairgowrie, Bordeaux, Randburg CBD, and parts of Sandton.

“I must thank the residents associations I worked with, community members who put in an effort to improve their suburbs, and my ward committee which worked very hard to log and follow up on issues.” Potter explained his resignation had been coming for a while but he was not obliged to make this public knowledge; in fact, most ward councillors do not.

So it was a surprise to many when he announced he had worked his last day.

ALSO READ: David Potter steps down as Ward 102 councillor

Several reasons contributed to Potter resigning before the end of his term, which included seeing the deterioration of municipal entities and service delivery, looting of funds, lack-lustre attitudes from city staff and the exodus of employees who do care, a lack of voter turnout in elections – especially municipal – and the verbal abuse many ward councillors receive from residents. The irony is that often the ward councillors who receive the most criticism are the ones who work the hardest and who care most about their residents.

“When I started, if six of the 10 issues were followed up on we could abide it. Now we only see two or three ever addressed,” Potter continued. “We have had a number of wins including the corner of Sandton Drive and William Nicol Drive, and Republic Road and William Nicol Drive, where we found the turning arrows were leading to accidents so we changed them to exlusive turns (only one side turning at a time) and it reduced the number of accidents. Then the little things like helping a pensioner who had been trying to get a rebate for a while but we as councillors know what to do, which buttons to push, and it is resolved, and it means so much to the resident.”

Yet issues such as the widening of Conrad Drive bridge in Blairgowrie and the storm water upgrade project in Ferndale have been in the pipeline for years – since 2010 in the former’s case and are a never-ending battle for ward councillors.

ALSO READ: Five million allocated to Conrad Bridge

ALSO READ: Ferndale’s storm water upgrade project receives new contractor

“Joburg is likely simply too far gone. I don’t need to tell you that. It is visible everywhere,” Potter added. “The City’s own Randburg Civic Centre is a disgrace and overdue for a private-public partnership redevelopment but is now entangled in litigation. Some days I wonder if only a fire in the Randburg Civic Centre may see it redeveloped.”

ALSO READ: A focus on the Randburg Civic Centre is needed

The DA will place a stand-in councillor in the coming days, to manage the ward until a by-election can be held in a month or two. The stand-in councillor will likely be a proportionate representative (PR) councillor.

Former Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood, who served on Potter’s ward committee after retirement called this a great loss and said ward councillors are under extreme pressure in Joburg. “Guys like David do all they can for residents but when there are issues, they are the ones who take the flack. The city should be held accountable for dropping the ball, not them,” he said.

“Ward councillors are by law not allowed to direct municipal workers, yet residents get angry at the councillors for lack of service delivery.”

Ward 117 councillor Tim Truluck called Potter his friend and long-time colleague. For 12 years we have been in the trenches together, working together, hatching plans together and trying to make Joburg a better place for all,” he said. “But, lately, it has become increasingly difficult to do this as the city crumbles around us.”

Potter thanked Randburg Sun for working with him to help residents and tell stories at a local government level. This publication also thanks David for his timeous comments on stories, and all the work he did to make Randburg better.