David Potter has stepped down as the councillor for Ward 102, thanking voters for putting their trust in him, and councillor colleagues, journalists and friends he met along the way.
Potter’s been a ward councillor for 12 yearsand his last day was May 31. He broke the news to the public on his final day and cited the failings of the city in service delivery, and his unmet dream for Randburg to be improved, in an open letter on Daily Maverick where he announced he was stepping down.
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“The city is in a terrible way,” he told Randburg Sun afterwards, thanking the newspaper for its work in telling stories at the local government level.
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 is the one that 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, which they can only escalate.”
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.”
Ward 102 covers much of Blairgowrie, Bordeaux, Randburg CBD and surrounding areas.
