Ward councillor Roberto Quintas, second from right, with, from left, Hangberg ward ambassador Ansha-lee Maarman and public interface officers Colin Blou and Ndumiso Sihola.
Ansha-lee Maarman will be keeping tabs on municipal service requests and complaints for Hangberg as part of her job as the community's new ward ambassador.
“I feel very pleased and honoured to play such an important role in the community," said Ms Maarman, who was selected from the City's randomised jobseeker database.
"I look forward to working hand in hand with community leaders and members of the community. As this is still a very new position, my ultimate goal is to become a permanent City employee.
“My role entails taking complaints from community members and doing regular follow-ups and trying to connect the community with the correct avenues to resolve issues. I will try resolving and following up on service requests to the best of my ability. If something is beyond my control, the councillor's office is readily available to assist."
Ward councillor Roberto Quintas met the new ward ambassador on Friday October 18 and also unveiled two more appointments in the community: "public interface officers" Ndumiso Sihola for Imizamo Yethu and Colin Blou for Hangberg.
“An Imizamo Yethu ward ambassador will be appointed in due course, once the necessary recruitment and HR processes are completed,” Mr Quintas said.
Ms Maarman would be mostly based at the Hangberg advice office on Salamander Road, reporting to the library office as needed, he said.
The public interface officials will be based at the library office and will help other officials.
The ward ambassadors and public interface officials "do not work 24/7” and were employed to work “Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm only”, Mr Quintas said.
One of eight siblings raised by a single mother in the Eastern Cape, Mr Sihola said he had come to Cape Town after finishing high school to find work to support his family.
"I have worked in different places such as the SPCA animal welfare, Hout SAPS as a reservist, Law Enforcement for a contract of three month, and I also worked as a driver and plumber.“
Referring to his new role, he said: "It means a lot to me, and I feel so special to be able to help the community."
Residents should not feel afraid to visit the councillor's office to ask for help when they needed it, he said.
The community should work together and "respect each others boundaries", Ms Maarman said.
“If people see me walking around in the community, they might see my dog, Major, walking with me, but he is just protecting me and refuses to stay home,” she laughed.
Residents could contact the City at 080 065 6463 for emergencies or use the WhatsApp line, 0600181505, for water and electricity complaints, she said.