Ward councillor goes to Parliament

He said, “It seems that there is good news and bad news on the horizon, depending on where you stand.”

Following the elections on 7 May, Bergman announced that he would be leaving his Ward 32 to take up a position as one of the members of Parliament. “I have had some major highlights in the ward, like the new friendships that will remain, structures that have been introduced in every suburb to assist communities access to the city council, the councillor and ward committees, and service delivery successes that have translated into jobs and change in just two years of service.”

Bergman was looking forward to his new journey as a member of Parliament. He said, “This has been a major ambition of mine and I gave myself the goal of reaching it by 40 years old. I am proud to say I am a few years good on that goal.”

He said there would be a vacancy for a ward councillor for Ward 32. “All parties have the option of submitting candidate nominations through to the IEC,” he explained.

Bergman said the date of the election had not been set, but he thought it would happen within the next two months. He added that in the next few weeks a by-election would take place and Ward 32 would be contested by most of the major parties. “I wish them all the best of luck, but most importantly I want to thank you the residents for being patient, for being understanding and for always being comfortable to engage,” said Bergman.

He believed that ratepayers deserved better from the city council and said he hoped residents “see more bang for buck” in the years to come.

Bergman added, “I leave Ward 32 in the best shape it has ever been as a collective ward.”

He said communication among the ward was constant and regular, and engagement with residents associations and Community Policing Forums had also been consistent and well regarded. “I have taught communities that it is not about the party when it comes to communities, it is about delivery. Thank you for giving me this one-of-a-kind experience.”

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