Aberdeen Ward 1 Committee

At a meeting last Thursday, held at the Thembalesizwe hall, the ward committee for ward one, Aberdeen, was elected. After the first meeting had had to be cancelled due to poor attendance, the municipality this time organized for posters to be put up in the town, and some (but not all) households received flyers concerning the meeting. Despite the notices proclaiming that the meeting would start at 17h00 sharp, it was at least half an hour after that before the meeting got under way, with many people arriving late. Over 100 people were eventually crammed into the hall, with many standing at the back.

The chairman of the ward committee, cllr Desmond Coetzee, welcomed everybody, and explained the functions of the ward committee. He particularly requested that those present should show respect for others at the meeting, and that the meeting be conducted in an orderly and respectful manner – something which needed to be reiterated several times during the evening as proceedings threatened to get out of control. Municipal manager Monde Langbooi however each time managed to get the election back on track.

After a long debate as to what method should be used to take nominations, the election proceeded and ten people were duly elected to serve on the ward committee. The members and their portfolios are as follows: Wongalethu Jacobs (youth), Yvonne Frazenburg(women), Gideon Botha (religious groupings), Daniel Pieterse (sport recreation arts and culture),   Janet Tinus (health and welfare), Mzwandile Blaai (business),  Christo Frazenburg (education),  Moses Dunjana (safety and security), Johannes Mouply (disabled people), Hilary Graham (economic development)

Municipal manager Monde Langbooi addresses the meeting

The new ward councillors for Aberdeen