Do your homework

Les Reynolds Being a successful councillor is predicated on three areas of work: Council, Constituency and Political.

Councillors need to be prepared to debate the subject at hand before entering the Council Chamber.

Read and research agendas before meetings. This allows for robust debate and it allows councillors to perform their oversight role, their prime function, in a meaningful manner.

Municipalities function strictly according to a number of Acts of Parliament.

Councillors must know the Municipal Finance Management Act, The Municipal Structures Act and the Municipal Systems Act, otherwise they are mere onlookers during debate.

Councillors should ensure that their ward committees, their eyes and ears, as well as a statutory requirement, are functional and that meetings take place regularly.

Councillors work for the betterment of their communities and this aspect of their work should take up most of their time.

Visit your constituency, talk to them via newsletters and regular report-back meetings. They should know who their councillor is, as well as their ward committee members, and feel free to contact any of you about any problem.

Being a councillor is a 24/7 job and is often stressful, but the rewards are seeing your contribution to Makana bear fruit – particularly now that we have entered a new phase in the political environment in Makana, and in South Africa. LesReynoldsisthe outgoingleaderoftheDA caucusinMakana.