Ward 98 councillor Laurette van Zijl said that Johannesburg is part of who she is and she will not give up on its residents’ needs.
“As a councillor I function on various levels,” she said.
“I am… in the service of the residents and I have to look after their interests as pertaining to municipal matters.”
Van Zijl does this through fostering good relationships with key officials, and “escalating matters through various channels.”
Van Zijl also attends to matters that fall under provincial and national government, such as education, police, crime. Along with other Ward councillors, van Zijl provides oversight on the actions of the City.
“My area of interest is environment,” she says. “Where I constantly push for policies promoting renewable energy and water conservation among others.” Van Zijl adds that residents in the Ward are proud of their neighbourhoods and quickly report illegal activities. “They mostly do their own reporting and only come to me when a situation lingers or does not get resolved,” she says.
“I have lived in Johannesburg for more than two thirds of my life and the City is part of me,” van Zijl says. “I therefore have a double enjoyment in my work. On the one hand, I interact with people and, on the other hand, I have the pleasure of contributing to make Johannesburg the city I would like it to be… Sometimes it can be soul breaking to keep on asking for the same thing… but I do not believe in giving up.”
Van Zijl is responsible for Berario, Cresta, Darrenwood, Fairland, Kelland, Randpark, parts of Randpark Ridge, Robin Hills, Windsor East, Windsor Glen and Windsor West.
Details: Ward 98 councillor Laurette van Zijl 082 330 0593;
lvanzijl@absamail.co.za.