Councillor’s Corner: Why ward councillors?

This week’s question was:

I am not too sure what a ward councillor really is. Why does the City have ward councillors?

Ward 104 councillor, Mike Wood, answered:

A ward councillor is the link between the residents and the City. It is an oversight role that the councillors exercise with all the municipal entities. He or she serves in the legislative arm of the council.

In council, by-laws are passed or amended and reports are submitted and interrogated. The councillors play a crucial role in all these functions.

The councillors can submit motions to council and these can ultimately become by-laws. They also serve on Section 79 committees and these bodies play an important oversight role in the operations of the various city entities.

The councillor is, in a way, the ‘member of parliament’ in that ward of the City. It brings the government closer to the people.

Do you have a question for a ward councillor?

As a local newspaper, the Randburg Sun provides a platform for residents to learn about, understand and follow local government. As an extension of that, there is a weekly column called Councillor’s Corner which is a platform for you, our readers, to voice your concerns or questions for ward councillors to respond to.

Different, willing ward councillors will respond to a question each week.

E-mail your burning question to aimeed@caxton.co.za and let’s get the ball rolling.