In this edition of Living & Investing, Jonathan Broekman speaks with Ward 102 Councillor, Lucinda Harman. They unpack what a ward councillor actually does, why resident associations matter and how community action can lift neighbourhoods - and property values - without politicised grandstanding or commercial promotion.
What does a ward councillor actually do? 🏛️
Jonathan:
A lot of residents aren’t sure where a ward councillor fits in. What does a councillor in Johannesburg actually do?
Lucinda:
Oversight - not instruction. A councillor is the community’s voice inside Council. We serve on Section 79 committees and in Council itself, pushing, shouting if needed, so residents are heard. Think less “microphone” and more “loudspeaker”.
Why do people bring every problem to you? ☎️
Jonathan:
Residents often come to you about roads, electricity, water - everything. Why?
Lucinda:
Because call centres and entities are hard to reach, people turn to their councillor. But I’m not a call-centre agent - and shouldn’t be. The city is struggling operationally; councillors didn’t break it. We escalate and advocate, but we don’t dispatch crews.
From boardroom to Council chamber 👩💼➡️🏛️
Jonathan:
How did you bridge the gap from the corporate world into public service?
Lucinda:
I was an active citizen - working with residents in Kyalami and fighting for animal health issues - when I was asked to apply. I never set out to be a councillor. I still keep a foot in corporate; I’ve essentially meshed the two worlds.
Ward 102 and working with neighbouring councillors 🗺️
Jonathan:
Ward 102 doesn’t include where we’re sitting now, but you work closely with other councillors?
Lucinda:
Yes. We’re all DA councillors and we collaborate across boundaries - especially in Bryanston where three councillors sometimes even share a road. Residents can find their councillor by popping their address into the DA website.
How residents can actually help 🧤🧹
Jonathan:
What should residents do to support their councillor?
Lucinda:
Stand together. Resident Associations (RAs) make a massive difference: litter clean-ups, removing illegal signage, tidying pavements and islands. These quick wins immediately lift an area. We can’t wait for the city alone - communities need to roll up their sleeves.
Do active RAs really help property values? 📈🏘️
Jonathan:
Does an active RA increase property values?
Lucinda:
Absolutely. When an area looks better, businesses arrive, coffee shops pop up, events follow - and buyers take notice. Blairgowrie is a good example: residents took over upkeep of the pool and park; the vibe shifted and support surged.
Media pressure and the “Jo’burg Jacuzzi” 🛠️🚿
Jonathan:
Your Carte Blanche feature on that infamous “jacuzzi” - was media pressure the only way to get action?
Lucinda:
We were already pushing hard, but yes - their presence accelerated things. JRA didn’t want to be on the wrong side of that spotlight. It wasn’t “window dressing” for G20; this was sustained pressure and public accountability.
Grit over glamour: what really drives results 💪
Jonathan:
Is it your sales background that makes you so effective?
Lucinda:
Sales helps, but it’s more stubborn grit - relentless, resilient drive. I won’t give up. That’s how you get things fixed.
The ideal resident (if you could clone them) 🧬🙂
Jonathan:
If you could clone the ideal resident, what would they be like?
Lucinda:
Courteous, respectful, community-driven servant leaders. People who bring solutions, not just complaints. Communities will save the city - by getting stuck in.
The Blairgowrie “blueprint” 🧩
Jonathan:
Is Blairgowrie a template for other suburbs?
Lucinda:
Yes. It’s become a recognised blueprint in the City of Joburg. Start small, prove sceptics wrong and momentum builds. Media notices - and so do buyers.
High-impact clean-ups and the IVSD approach 🧽🚚
Jonathan:
You’ve mentioned “IVSDs” - what happens at these?
Lucinda:
Impact-driven sessions at hotspots: bring in entities, clean from top to bottom, secure parks, reduce vagrancy and reset standards. Then we move suburb to suburb, keeping RAs inspired and accountable.
“This can’t be a once-off” - building sustainability 🔁
Jonathan:
How do you keep momentum so it’s not just one neat cut of the grass?
Lucinda:
Sustainability is non-negotiable. Through Reimagine Randburg, we pair quick wins with long-term commitments: adopt spaces, maintain them and stay consistent. Success = consistency.
Quick wins that spark belief ⚡
Jonathan:
Give us examples of those quick wins.
Lucinda:
Fencing the weir at Delta Park with Craigavon residents; facilitating the Blairgowrie pool and rec centre handover in half an hour. Quick wins build energy and show what’s possible - then others follow.
“Firecracker meets government” - bridging the pace gap 🔥🐢
Jonathan:
You’re known for energy; government isn’t always fast. How do you cope?
Lucinda:
With difficulty! I’m learning tolerance, but I keep driving standards upward. I live the broken windows theory: keep areas immaculate to deter negative behaviour.
Keeping Randburg on the map 🗺️🏢
Jonathan:
With decentralisation and buildings shifting, how do you keep Randburg visible?
Lucinda:
By showing up. We even painted the outside of the Randburg Civic Centre to force attention. Licencing and revenue have returned there after refurbishment - small wins that matter.
Direct channels vs the Councillor’s inbox 📬
Jonathan:
You’ve guided residents to report issues directly. Why?
Lucinda:
I’m one person serving ±22,000 residents. With outages and backlogs, my inbox explodes. Residents must log issues first, get reference numbers, wait the service-level period, then escalate via me. It’s faster and more accountable.
Party alignment and public duty 🎗️
Jonathan:
Are you aligned first to party or to residents?
Lucinda:
I’m a DA councillor - I carry the party’s values and I’m accountable to that. Voters generally vote for parties, not individuals. But in service, I focus on residents’ needs and lawful processes.
Legacy: “Go Shake the Trees” 🌲
Jonathan:
What legacy would you like to leave in Ward 102?
Lucinda:
That we turned “impossible” into “done”. A revitalised Randburg CBD; parks and pools reopened; a proven blueprint communities can replicate. I’m not finished - the real turnaround is a long game and I’m in it.
How residents can help - today ✅
Jonathan:
For anyone ready to engage, what should they do first?
Lucinda:
Find your specific Ward Councillor, log issues properly, be polite and get involved with your RA. Adopt a verge, join clean-ups, help with signage removal - small, steady actions add up. Be part of the solution.
Final word 🎧
Jonathan:
Lucinda, thank you. Your message is clear: community power, disciplined process and relentless follow-through.
Lucinda:
Thank you. Get up. Dress up. Show up. Never give up - and yes, shake the trees.
