Ward councillors declared an essential service

In the initial Government Gazette detailing what services would be classified as essential, ward councillors were not included.

However, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has recently changed the initial regulations and declared members of the Members of Local Councils as essential.

As such, ward councillors will now be able to continue with performing their oversight functions based around continued service delivery in each ward during the Covid-19 lockdown. The councillors do not only oversee service delivery, but also have a number of legislative functions, such as important budgetary items, which will need to be tabled and passed. In addition, the councillors need to be available in the rare case that a by-law needs to be passed.

In a statement from the DA Chief Whip for the Johannesburg Caucus, Wendy Alexander, residents were encouraged to continue to log service delivery failures. “In the event where the City fails to provide essential services within the available service levels dictated by the national lockdown, residents may escalate their issues to a local councillor.”

Wendy spoke on behalf of the councillors, saying that the ward councillors are available and will continue to give guidance to residents as to how to access social services (like shelters for displaced people, food and water for individuals in need).

Wendy said that the councillors in the DA Caucus have been working together with donors, stakeholders, and City officials to provide as much assistance to communities or people in distress as possible.

Wendy concluded her statement by assuring residents that the caucus, together with City officials, will stop at nothing to make sure residents receive their essential services.