Year end message from Ward 115 councillor, Chris Santana
From new projects to collapsed bridges and potholes, to illegal dumping, fires and fund-raising for community relief projects, Ward 115 was involved in it all in 2014.
The year began with the opening of Northriding Secondary School on Bellairs Drive, a DA legacy achievement by three consecutive councillors over a period of about 10 years.
This was a very important project for me during 2013 because I believe that accessibility to education is the cornerstone of our future success. I was honoured to be among the delegation at the hand-over ceremony in March 2014.
Within a similar time frame, storm water ripped apart residential properties, road infrastructure across the ward and Douglasdale’s Niven Road bridge that straddles a tributary of the Klein Jukskei River. Malibongwe Drive and Witkoppen Road acted as funnels for the deluge. The volume of water that gushed down Witkoppen Road undermined the bridge’s already ailing structure.
The good news is, I have been able to get much of this attended to by local and provincial government.
Repairs to the Witkoppen Road bridge, which had been problematic for about 18 months, were completed, and the bridge opened in November – much to the relief of motorists.
Construction of a new Niven Road bridge is close to completion.
Ongoing liaison with Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has resulted in a bridge that is considerably higher, wider and stronger than the previous structure.
Other related storm water issues have been escalated to the Members of the Mayoral Committee in Johannesburg who are responsible for the resolution of these problems and developing policies to address and avoid these kinds of failings.
I have had success in initiating a storm water assessment plan from the City of Johannesburg, and have been assured that JRA will implement the plan. It is this plan that gave rise to the renovation of Niven Road bridge and will benefit other failing storm water servitudes throughout the ward.
Residents in our ward responded to Ward 115’s Kya Sands Fire Relief call. It is because of their generosity in donating shoes, clothes and foodstuffs that the Ward 115 Committee was able to help our neighbours in adjacent Ward 96, whose homes were razed by a number of fires during the year.
Having been among the chaos, fear and loss at the scene of the tragedy, I can tell you that your kindness has alleviated much suffering.
Illegal dumping is a city-wide crisis. Many of our streets and other open spaces have become characterised by piles of rubble and rubbish, and widespread littering in general, which has introduced health risks to the people and brought down the reputation of Johannesburg.
We need visible, consistent and effective JMPD law enforcement in order to halt the decay of our city. This is a unanimous call from City councillors to the Members of the Mayoral Committee. Let’s hope we will see an improvement in 2015.
Where an improvement has been made, is on Witkoppen Road. I spent a number of months in consultation with the Department of Education, Department of Infrastructure and Development, Gautrans and contractors about filling the dangerous donga that aligned Witkopppen Road with building rubble from Northriding Secondary School.
So I was relieved to see this happen … until every illegal dumper joined the party.
I am glad to say that the illegal dumping has stopped and much, although not all, of the debris has been leveled and cleared.
Top of the list for 2015 is to get Council to implement a combined SAPS-JMPD law enforcement unit in line with the joint campaign being driven by Douglasdale SAPS and CPF, JMPD and Fourways Precinct councillors.
The unit will focus on traffic and by-law infringements.
Thank you for your support during 2014.
I hope we can achieve a great deal of good together in the coming year.
I wish you all safe journeys and happy holidays over the festive season.
PS:
Ward 115 achieved the highest number of DA votes in the City of Johannesburg in the 2014 National and Provincial Elections. Bring on 2016 and a change of government so that the DA can fix this city!
