JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – During the campaign for the By-election, many issues were brought up again and again, issues such as: “Where are my rates and taxes going”, “We are not receiving the services that we should”, “Ward 57 has its own budget, what is the councillor doing with the money” and it goes on.
It surprises me how little residents are aware of how government really works. Well, I think that this issue needs to be addressed! There are three tiers of government: National; Provincial and Local Government, all of which have their own disciplines of government.
Local government is the most important as this is where action happens on the ground; Where we live in the suburbs, Local government looks after issues of roads, parks, street lights, electricity and water. Issues that affect us everyday.
Let me put one of the issues on the table now. Councillors do not receive a budget for their wards. Budget is centralised, I am not saying it is a good thing, but that is the way it is.
Now let’s us come down to the issue of ward councillors. Many residents have said that as a DA councillor, I was in charge of the ward and I ran the ward. Yes, as a DA councillor I was elected as such, my question to the residents is: “WHO GOVERNS THE CITY?” It is my new political home, the AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, of which I am now proud to be a member.
I am aware of how some people must feel about me, I have been subject to a few insults. I am aware that a lot of people fought on the border of this country, an ideology of communism! I am also aware that many men were injured and killed on the border. However, at this point in time, I believe that if I want the ward to progress both economically and with service delivery, there no other way.
I would just like to put another thought your way, once you have paid your services to the City, it is no longer your money. It now belongs to the City of Johannesburg, and it is their prerogative to spend their money as they feel. One more thought on the table, joining the ANC does not change me as a person, I am still the same and I will continue to fight for what is right for the ward!!!
Yours in God’s Service
Bev Turk, ANC member
