Ward 74 councillor shares 200-day experience

With integrated collaborations supporting her, Ward 74 councillor Belinda Echeozonjoku aims to rebuild her ward to high standards.

Ward 74 councillor Belinda Echeozonjoku writes:

It’s been more than 200 days in office and what a journey it has been.
When I became the Ward 74 ward councillor in November last year, it only later dawned on me that I now had 22 suburbs that need my equal attention. I had no choice but to hit the ground running, dealing with issues that had been there for months, while others had been there for years, it’s now my role to ensure that things in the ward get fixed.

An integrated operation by the councillor and law enforcement officials inspects a bar for compliance.

Commitments and positives

Ward 74 councillor Belinda Echeozonjoku tackles an illegal dumping hotspot.

Supported initiatives

A night blitz results in the inspection of a bar for compliance.

Some challenges

We had unfortunate incidents with unscrupulous business forums where SMMEs and jobseekers from outside our ward tried to stop projects in the ward. I am very grateful that, fortunately, with the help of two station commanders of Norwood SAPS, this was nipped in the bud before it got out of hand.

Unfortunately, we are still having major issues with lengthy power outages after load-shedding. I am trying to facilitate a public meeting with residents and City Power.

We also still have problems with Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) with a long list of outstanding issues. This list had been sent to the MMC for Transport via the office of the executive mayor. Subsequently, the new CEO of JRA has come to the ward to work on some of the issues.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency does some work on Scott Street in Waverley.

Residents have also raised concerns about the slow response times from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). I have subsequently been advised by MMC David Tembe that an additional 64 JMPD officers have been deployed to Region E.

We also have seen the unfortunate incidences of illegal gambling, illegal spaza shops and other illegal land use, illegal building and roadside mechanics in the Kew and Bramley areas. I am keeping a close eye on this and soon there will be integrated operations working with SAPS and other law enforcement including Home Affairs to ensure that we rebuild our ward as we do our city.

Related articles:

New councilor speaks plans for Ward 74

Still no progress with renovations at HA Jack Primary School in Highlands North after three years

Exit mobile version