Be part of the ward committee
Residents urged to become ward committee members
After the completion of the municipal elections and induction of councillors, the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is preparing for the next important phase – establishing ward committees.
“What is a ward committee?” you may ask. A ward committee is made up of residents of the ward. It does not have a legal persona but serves as an advisory committee to support the ward councillor to carry out his or her mandate.
Councillor Vasco da Gama, the Speaker of Council said, “Ward committees will work with ward councillors to ensure that public participation processes represent the full diversity of interests in that ward. The ward councillor will at all times remain fully and solely accountable to Council, their political party and the community.”
According to Da Gama, the ward committee elections will be taking place throughout Johannesburg from 28 January to 11 February next year. To ensure the elections are free and transparent, it will be held under the supervision of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Nomination forms will be available at all municipal offices, facilities and the City of Johannesburg’s website from 1 November until 25 November.
“We have already started with an extensive awareness campaign coupled with civic education about the establishment and role of ward committees.
This is to ensure opportunities are created for all interested residents to participate,” Da Gama said.
CoJ has 135 wards and each ward needs to elect 10 members to represent various portfolios in a ward committee, with the ward councillor as chairperson. The portfolios include housing, transport, public safety, finance and economic development, infrastructure and services, community development, environment, health, development planning and urban management.
Residents who believe they have the will and time to serve their community are urged to make themselves available for election onto any portfolio of their interest. Some requirements need to be met before one can become a ward committee member, including being a registered voter of the ward, not a municipality employee, up to date with all rates and taxes, no criminal record and being of sound mind.
Meetings are held once a month during which community issues will be discussed. The ward councillor will also give feedback on critical issues and Council decisions.
“We have an obligation to advance our democracy and encourage communities to become actively involved so that their communities, in turn, can evolve through active participation,” Da Gama concluded.
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