What does a ward councillor do?
The duties of a ward councillor, and exactly how much power they have are often exaggerated, and residents feel they are not being helped because there are certain things a councillor cannot do. Gert Niemand has explained the duties and responsibilities of a ward councillor to help the community understand the position a little more.
How councillors can and can’t help their wards
Ward councillors are elected to oversee specific areas within a municipality, with 135 of them falling under the City of Johannesburg.
The specific duties of a ward councillor, and exactly how much power they have, are often exaggerated. A ward councillor is not responsible for the delivery of basic services like the supply of water or electricity, or for fixing potholes. Their responsibility is to represent the concerns of their ward in council so the relevant parties can present solutions.
The high expectations of residents on exactly what the councillor should be doing with limited funds, time, and help can present a challenge to the councillors. All councillors should have extensive knowledge of local government systems and the municipal environment. They are, therefore, equipped to advise residents on how to solve issues that they cannot personally resolve, or at least give them contact details and a way forward.
Basic services are provided by the municipality and the entities it employs, meaning that it is their job to fix these services. However, residents often misunderstand the duties of a ward councillor and expect them to resolve the issue. The councillors can only intervene once the resident has reported the issue, received a reference number, and then received no service delivery.
Councillors cannot legally instruct officials about how to do their jobs. They do, however, have the right to expect the officials to meet specific standards and can raise serious concerns within the council for the attention of the relevant department if they believe these standards are not being met.
So what are the responsibilities of a ward councillor?
According to Gert Niemand, councillor for Ward 84 and Chairperson of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee for the City of Johannesburg, the duties of a ward councillor are as follows:
• Councillors serve as representatives of the residents in their ward; they facilitate their ward’s inputs; and serve as the communication link between Council and communities
• Councillors help monitor the performance of the municipality
• Councillors can provide leadership roles in Council (for example, councillor Leah Knott is also the MMC for Economic Development)
• Councillors ratify key decisions of Council. The councillors vote for decisions to be made and can debate certain issues and present alternatives or represent different views
• Councillors serve as members of ward committees where residents and councillors work together to identify and resolve issues
• Councillors act as custodians or guardians of public finances such as the budget for fixing ward issues
• Councillors are responsive and accountable to the communities they serve
The ward councillors should be attentive to their community, and available within reason. They are not always available immediately due to meetings, personal commitments, and other engagements. Ward councillors are also permitted by legislation to hold other employment as well as their position as a councillor.
