Know your Ward councillors

– Mike Tonkin is a Democratic Alliance (DA) Ward 126 councillor which covers the suburbs of Allen’s Nek, Rand Park Ridge (partial) and Weltevreden Park (partial).

“My interest in community affairs was initiated while dairy farming in the Honeydew area during the early 1990s. It was honed by the interpersonal skills that were inculcated while working in a sales management positions prior to my farming enteprises,” said Tonkin.

He said he established a mutual security system for residents living in the immediate area that worked well and proved most effective both in preventing and combating crime, and at the same time, representing the community on the Muldersdrift Community Policing Forum for some 10 years.

“Shortly, I successfully stood for the position of Ward councillor for the DA in Ward 126.

Describing what his job entails, Tonkin explained that the ageing infrastructure has ensured that he is kept busy with infrastructure upgrades, new townhouse developments and the maintenance of existing infrastructure issues.

– Ingrid Reinten lives in Weltevreden Park and is a DA Ward 89 councillor, which covers Weltevreden Park, Constantia Kloof North and Panorama AH.

Explaining her job description she said, according to the legislation, she is expected to evaluate the policies and programmes of the municipality and consider the needs of the people she represents as well as make recommendations that can improve these policies and programmes, in line with the objectives of local government.

“Among the challenges that I face is to be able to nag to get some things done by the municipality, because of the lack of response I receive to requests made to the City of Johannesburg,” she added.

Reinten said as a councillor, she has managed to interact with the community through the Honeydew Community Policing Forum(CPF), Sector 2 for Weltevreden Park; Fairland Rate Payer’s Association; Fairland CPF; Florida North and Quellerina Ratepayer’s Association; Weltevreden Park Resident’s Association and Constantia Village Resident’s Association – to name a few. Reinten said she is also studying part-time to complete a masters degree in healthcare.

– Carl Mann is a DA Ward 85 councillor and represents areas like Princess (partial), Horison, Horison Park, Horison View, Kloofendal, Constantia Kloof, Carenvale, Ontdekkerspark, Floracliffe and parts of Heldekruin.

“My daily duty involves addressing the lack of basic services like refuse removal, sanitation, water and electricity to parts of the suburbs within the ward as the first call of business. I also value the maintenance and upkeep of the more established communities within Ward 85 as being of equal importance to the housing needs of the informal settlement of Princess. I have been focusing on sorting out any related issues brought to my attention as well as on the environment,” he said.

Mann said he is actively involved in his own church community with non-governmental organisation and his ministry. He is married and has two sons.

“My wish is to ensure that there is a bright and promising future for the all South Africans to enjoy for years to come.”

– Jaco Engelbrecht was born in the Northern Cape town of Hartswater.

He attended Grey College Secondary School in Bloemfontein from 1988 and matriculated in 1992.

“I then came to Johannesburg to study toward BA LL B degrees at the University of Johannesburg. I formally joined the Democratic Alliance as a member in 2009 and stood as candidate for Ward 97 in 2011, and became councillor with the overwhelming support of the residents of the ward,” said Engelbrecht.

He also mentioned that in council, he served on the Section 79 Oversight of the Mayor’s Office Committee in addition to being a councillor.

“I am also an Advocate of the High Court, specialising in the fields of labour law, local government and occupational health and safety.”

Engelbrecht’s Ward 97 covers a portion of Willowpark, Allen’s Nek, Ruimsig, Laser Park, Little Falls, Radiokop, Wilgeheuwel, Struben’s Valley, Rietfontein and Zonnehoewe.

– ANC Ward 114 councillor Maureen Schneeman was contacted for an interview, but said she was in hospital and could not be available until after her discharge.

“I would not mind – even if my profile does not appear in the paper because there have been a lot of bad things written about me by the press,” she said.

Details: Ward 126 councillor Mike Tonkin 082564 0160; Ward 85 councillor Carl Mann 0726162025; Ward 89 councillor Ingrid Reinten 083 440 8343; Ward 97 councillor Jaco Engelbrecht 082 318 6514; Ward 114 councillor Maureen Schneeman 083 297 1128.