Major issues being addressed in Ward 102
Blairgowrie Park, Blairgowrie Swimming Pool and the Randburg CBD are hotspots of recent activity – or lack thereof.
Ward 102 Lucinda Harman has encouraged the community to take ownership of their areas and the public spaces in them, reporting issues and making sure facilities are in working order.
Since taking the reins from then-fellow DA councillor, David Potter, upon his resignation at the end of May, and then being elected officially after the by-elections in August, Harman said she has tried to be visible and vocal about effecting the changes residents have been asking for.
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Aside from the road, water and electricity issues that have become an everyday occurrence in Joburg, Harman said residents have also been complaining about homeless people setting up dwellings and living illegally in Blairgowrie Park.
What followed was a multi-departmental clean-up of the area on September 19. The makeshift dwellings and belongings of the homeless were removed but the people themselves did not accept the shelter offered by the Department of Social Development and opted to remain homeless.
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“Blairgowrie Swimming Pool is also a huge mess – its public toilets are dirty and are broken,” Harman said of the pool that was meant to open to the public on September 1. “The equipment in the pump room is falling apart and has to be held up with bricks. Thousands of bugs swim across the surface of the pool. It is nowhere near ready for swimmers.”
In response to this, spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg Nathisi Modingoane said the municipality acknowledges the state of the pool as well as those in Windsor West and Robin Hills that are in similarly poor condition. She added they understand the importance of public pools and they encourage residents to use nearby facilities while they address these issues.
“Updates on the functional status of Robin Hills, Blairgowrie, and Windsor West will be shared once available,” she added.
Harman joined Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and city manager Floyd Brink in their oversight and accelerated service delivery visit to Randburg CBD on October 3. While there, they looked at homelessness in the area, the Civic Centre still out of action since its fire in July, dirty and unsafe working conditions at the improvised revenue services location (they work in a kitchen), street lights that did not work, and hijacked buildings and substations.
They also investigated faded road markings that need repainting, recyclers using land owned by the City to burn plastic, swathes of pollution around the Randburg Taxi Rank, informal traders not having permits, and further land owned by the city that is not being made use of.
Next up, Harman will host two public meetings for residents to connect with her. The first will be on the corner of Rabie Street and Republic Road on October 14 and the second will be at Grosvenor Corner (corner of Grosvenor Road and Winnie Mandela Drive) on October 21. Both will be from 10:00 until 14:00.
A third meeting will follow at Old Parktonian Sports Club from 09:00 until 13:00 on October 28.
Details: Ward 102 councillor Lucinda Harman ward102joburg@gmail.com; 083 440 7901.
