Dearest residents of Ward 61.
It is with sadness that I bid you farewell as your Ward Councillor. It has been a momentous journey—-All 15 years. Being a Councillor is definitely not a 9 to 5 job. You have to learn to accept both compliments and criticism graciously, knowing that it takes both sun and rain for a flower to grow. Where do I begin to express my gratitude to everyone who has walked this road with me— side by side; The residents who displayed their utmost support, year after year, the organisations that reached out to me to improve the quality of life of our less fortunate fellow beings, the Laudium Sun for their unflinching support and for alerting me to the challenges facing our residents. Also, the Laudium Disaster Management team, who, come rain or sunshine, always stood tall to ensure that our residents were provided with water during our numerous water cuts. The list is endless. How can I forget the smile on the faces of my Mother and the White Blocks and Itireleng communities, when I was elected as Councillor for the very first time. My election team, easily the most effective and organised ‘Dream Team’ anyone could wish for. The voters who stood in long queues to mark their cross for me, Essop. My family and friends who worked tirelessly during my campaigns. These memories are priceless. They mean a lot to me, and I hold them close to my heart. However, the passing years have taken a toll on my health. I also feel the need to spend some time with my family. Thus, there is a time to come and a time to go. The time has come to hand over the baton to Councillor-elect, Naeem Patel, who I believe will serve the community with utter dedication. I wish Naeem all the best. I strongly believe in the adage “Helping one person may not change the World, but it could change the world for that person”. I trust that I have done exactly that. May the Almighty’s light always shine on the residents of Ward 61. God Bless and Thank You.
– Former Councillor, Mohamed Farouki Essop.
