The Speaker of Council, Cllr Nobuhle Mthembu, launched her regional tour in Region A, Rabie Ridge, this week, engaging with ward committee members to address key challenges affecting their work.
The initiative aims to gain first-hand insight into region-specific issues and explore solutions to enhance service delivery and governance. It forms part of the Speaker’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the legislature, ward committees, and the City’s urban management structures.
During the session, ward committee members from various wards in Region A raised concerns beyond service delivery challenges. They highlighted obstacles such as insufficient support in their roles and prolonged turnaround times for logging and resolving service delivery issues with City departments and relevant entities.
In response, the Office of the Speaker assured attendees that she would engage with the executive to address these concerns and implement measures to support ward committee members in their work.
“These engagements are not a tick-box exercise. Our ward committees must be empowered and fully supported to perform their duties efficiently,” said Cllr Mthembu.
Beyond service delivery, the regional tour also seeks to establish an efficient ward councillor liaison support service to improve communication, enhance service coordination, and strengthen community engagement.
The tour will continue over the coming weeks, covering all regions and wards within the City. This marks the first time Speaker Mthembu has undertaken such direct engagement with ward committees since taking office last year. It forms part of her broader strategy to bring the Legislature closer to the people and accelerate meaningful community participation.
SOURCED FROM THE JOBURG WEBSITE.
