The challenges Andrew Stewart faces as a councillor of Ward 91
Andrew Stewart, Ward 91 councillor, reflects on the highs and lows of the last five months.
According to Ward 91 councillor, Andrew Stewart, the City of Johannesburg has been running on an unfunded budget since the beginning of November 2021, which means that a major portion of the city’s budget for services cannot be implemented.
“A much-needed loan from the Development Bank of South Africa has only been approved this last month. The loan funding does avoid catastrophe, but the city’s general financial position remains tenuous. As a result, residents have experienced yet another reduction in service delivery standards, which is made worse by load-shedding and an ageing water pipe infrastructure. Resulting in regular and continuous pipe bursts,” said Stewart.
“I have been petitioning the city for new water pipes in parts of Wynberg, Strathavon, and Athol,” he added.
He added that as councillor for Ward 91, he has been working with private sector companies to try and implement better protection for some key sub-stations that have been vandalized numerous times in the last 18 months. In addition, Stewart has been helping residents with Johannesburg Road Agency to improve the safety of certain intersections such as Dartfield and South Road, where regular accidents take place.
The intersection will require redesign. On a positive note, JRA has committed to resurfacing five roads in Ward 91 that desperately need an upgrade. The roads cover Wynberg, Alex, and Athol, which is a start.
“Aside from critical infrastructure issues, I am happy that the Alexandra portion of Ward 91 is eventually getting some housing projects, namely Project 52, The Triangle Housing Project, and the big JDA Watt Street development which will take a few years but will provide affordable housing for a good few thousand residents,” concluded Stewart.
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