Calling all Lenasians, please be present at crucial Ward DEMARCATION meeting on 15th May

Residents of Lenasia, your valued input and contributions are absolutely essential as critical ward demarcations taking place in the middle of May 2025.

Mark your calendar dates for 15th May, when the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be at the Lenasia Civic Centre for “mass public participation and comments” for the demarcation process.

Your input to them on how exactly Lenasia should be divided and thus governed is vital.

Emphasising demarcation significance, Lenasia Ward 9 Councillor Yakoob ‘Jakes’ Karolia said: “Our community must get involved in this process for our own benefit. “We can’t have councillors living out of Lenasia but trying to manage problems in our area.”

Councillor Karolia is proposing that Lenasia be divided into two wards instead of the current three wards where important parts of our town are joined-up in a ward with other neighbouring areas like Soweto, Lawley, informal settlements etc.

Whilst Ward 9 encompasses most of Lenasia, currently, the northern part of Ext.1, the north-western parts of Ext.13 and 5 fall under Ward 10 whose remainder is a large chunk of Protea South, Soweto and is managed by Councillor Nokuthula Nofemela.

Residents of Extension 9,10 and parts of 6 and 1 1fall under Ward 8 which incorporates Thembelihle and Lawley and is managed by Councillor Godfrey Molate Lebea.

Many Lenasians feel this is a ridiculous set-up and allege that such demarcation is deliberately designed to favour certain political parties. They say Lenasia should be more like Laudium where all of it and its neighbouring suburbs of Erasmia and Claudius fall under Ward 61 in the City of Tshwane municipality.

Councillor Karolia and numerous Lenasians suggest Lenasia should be divided into two wards and the citizens of our town can make this a reality.

Councillor Karolia stated: “The town people’s input and comments on May 15th at Civic is crucial in shaping our community’s future. “Let’s work together to ensure Lenasia is governed by its residents, for its residents.”

He stressed: “Lenasian people must not be complacent here and then complain afterwards (when there is any adversity arising due to a demarcation they are not satisfied with).”

He feels two wards for Lenasia, rather than three, would be ideal.

“The community will benefit with my proposal of two wards in Lenasia, inclusive of two informal settlements and Anchorville as part of Lenasia,” Councillor Karolia explained.

He said his party Al Jama-ah, which has comfortably won the last three local elections in Lenasia Ward 9, will be contesting Ward 10 due to “residents in Extension 1 and 13 etc. showing unhappiness with service delivery in their sections of our town”.

Meanwhile, Councillor Karolia said he and his team are continuing with their road-repair project across Lenasia.

This follows recent heavy rains which caused an influx of potholes.

“Despite budget constraints by the City of Johannesburg, local businesses have generously funded tar, enabling us to fix the potholes,” Councillor Karolia explained, adding: “We’ve already completed work on Abu Asvat, K43, Rose Avenue, Hydrangea Avenue and AnemoneStreet.”

He wholeheartedly thanked and acknowledged the role of his dedicated team which includes businessman Moosa Karolia and his Lensure team, “who have been assisting with pothole repairs for three years”.

The councillor added that his team have commenced repairs of non-working street lights too, stating: “My priorities are main roads, entrances and repairs to the central business district first. Secondary roads will be tackled thereafter. “Depending on issues like stolen cables and other problems, it may take a bit of time but we will get the lights functional.”