Bryanfern’s 2020

Chairperson of the Bryanfern Residents Association John Endres has highlighted some of the shining stars in their community and reflected on the year that was 2020 and writes:

Our highlights and lowlights for 2020 are closely entwined. The Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdown and the economic fallout it caused were clearly the worst things to happen this year. It wasn’t just bad, it was devastating to many families and disruptive in an epochal sense.

However, out of the crisis emerged something wonderful. The BFRA worked together with some of our neighbouring residents associations to collect donations to help residents in need during the lockdown.

The success of the initiative exceeded our wildest expectations, with residents and local businesses collectively donating over R200 000 to help those in need. This assistance made a huge difference in many people’s lives, and we are immensely grateful to those who contributed.

I would like to mention three people who really stood out in the past year.

Firstly, my committee colleague Bronweyn Craig for her incredible energy and unflagging can-do spirit in helping both with the food drive and with all types of residents’ concerns and municipal issues. We couldn’t have done it without her and are deeply in her debt.

Secondly, our ward councillor, Mike Wood, who consistently goes beyond the call of duty to assist residents and is always available to try and help, while remaining unfailingly calm and polite. We know what an achievement that is and is duly appreciative.

Thirdly, the chairman of the Kenbrink RA, Andrew Shaw, who was instrumental in organising the Covid-19 relief drive, keeping everybody motivated and tracking the many activities that went into making this cross-RA initiative a success. His bonhomie and positive encouragement helped get us all through this difficult time.

Our request to the community for the New Year is to become involved. We have started creating a wonderful sense of community and want to build further on that. Together, we can do things like give input on the government’s plans to build social housing in our greenbelt area. We can also jointly respond to the City of Johannesburg’s continuous plans to extract more money out of residents who are already battered from Covid-19 and from receiving deteriorating services that are becoming more expensive from year to year.

Our hopes for 2021 is that the world finds its way out of the pandemic and that South Africa emerges from its economic and governance doldrums refreshed and reinvigorated. We keenly anticipate the 2021 municipal elections.