Councillor steps down after 10 years

ANC councillor for Ward 2, Xolisa Ntsepo, has come to the end of his term and before he leaves, he has given a run-down of the achievements and challenges in his ward over the years.

Ntsepo has served two terms as a ward councillor in his area. He started in 2006 and will serve until the local elections when a new candidate will be elected.

The thing with power is, it needs to be shared. I have served my fair time and now it’s time for someone new to carry on in my place. It’s not all about me. You are not a king when you are a councillor,” Ntsepo told the Herald.

In 2007, just a year after he was elected, he was involved in an accident that left him unable to walk. “I was in a coma for four months. Afterwards I had to go through physiotherapy and speech therapy. I mean, I couldn’t talk at that point,” he said.

He said initially he was asked to run for councillor and after his accident he was asked to serve another term.

“The ANC commissioned me. You know, this is one hell of an organisation. Even after my accident they waited for me to heal. They gave me a chance because I was elected,” Ntsepo explained.

Since his first term Ntsepo has managed 16 achievements and has come across almost an equal number of challenges.

Achievements over his two terms served:

• Apollo lights were put up in the impoverished Peacehaven area

• Apollo lights were put up at the four-way stop at the R559 and Drakensberg Roads intersection

• Energy saving lights were installed in Finsbury, Peacehaven and Kocksoord

• A park was established in Finsbury

• The first phases of the Peacehaven/ Kocksoord park were completed

• Peacehaven roads were tarred and paved

• Street lights were put up in Ten Acres

• Wheelie bins were introduced in Ward 2

• The Ward 2 sewage system was refurbished and upgraded

• Speed humps were put in place, though not in all streets

• A water tank was installed at the Montrose Farm (Kosporong), Kodisanteng plot

• Tafelberg Street in Finsbury was upgraded

• 100 metres of Tsitsikama Street in Finsbury were tarred

• The Finsbury Sports Complex as well as two additional soccer fields were completed

• The Kocksoord Library was fenced and more modern material was put in place

• The Kocksoord Clinic was fenced and extended

Challenges:

• A satellite police station was not reopened but some progress has been made on the matter

• All RDP housing issues could not be sorted out

• A secondary school for the ward could not be established

• Apollo lights have yet to be put up in Kocksoord and plot areas

• The Multi-purpose Community Centre could not be established

• No new developments with the cemetery

• Land for churches could not be allocated

• Speed humps still need to be put in place in various streets in Ward 2

• Short streets (passages) have yet to be tarred in Kocksoord

• Maintenance issues:

• Fixing potholes – ongoing

• Replacing street lights – ongoing

• Pruning trees – seasonal

• Cutting grass – seasonal

• Sewage pipe blockages – ongoing

• Scraping sand soccer fields in Finsbury and Peacehaven – ongoing

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