In view of the huge amount of unaccounted water that the council has recorded, I would appeal to all residents to report water leaks as soon as they are located. There is a call centre that Johannesburg Water operates during office hours and the number is 011-6881699 or you can e-mail customerservice@jwater.co.za and retain the reference number you are given.
My wife always maintains that it is the small victories that we need to strive for and I am blessed to report the following has happened:
- Water upgrade in Cumberland Road.
- Electrical upgrade in Cumberland Road.
- Metro police intervention in parts of the area to clamp down on speeding.
- In the Cumberland Bird Sanctuary a number of concerned residents have commenced with painting the precast walls in the area. A work party has been arranged the first week in June to remove alien plants and do a general clean up.
- Metro police have mounted an operation regarding the taxi issue on the corner of Sloan Street and Pitchley Avenue. This is an ongoing saga and is very much work in progress.
- The wetland on Cottersmore Road is an area of great concern and an enthusiastic group of residents have rallied around it. We will be submitting plans to the city council in view of the security issues around that area.
- Once the building operation has been completed at the Bryanfern Shopping Centre and the contractors have vacated the park in Dundee Road, city council will be approached to improve and upgrade this area. This park has potential and as residents we need to take it back. I will be appealing to all concerned for assistance in this matter.
I am indeed very humbled by the participation of various residents associations and individuals in the ward, when it comes to clean-ups and general involvement. I am reminded what Margaret Mead, the American cultural Anthropologist, had to say in this regard and I quote her, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world for indeed that’s all who ever have.”
I am always on the lookout for such caring people who can make the difference. I appeal to residents to get involved in residents associations, street committees, sector policing forums and any other civic related structure. We can curse at the darkness that surrounds us, or be the light that brings hope. The choice is yours as well as mine.
I would like to thank all the folk in this part of the ward who are quietly working to make a difference. I am very blessed and very grateful.
Details: mikewo@mweb.co.za
