Malose Makhafola prioritises service delivery in Ward 54

1. What are the three biggest challenges currently facing your ward, and how will you address them?

In Ward 54, the three biggest challenges are potholes, frequent power outages, and sewage spills. I will work closely with the municipality and residents to report problems and monitor general service delivery challenges in Ward 54.

2. How will you improve basic service delivery such as water, electricity, refuse removal and road maintenance?

To improve service delivery, I will conduct regular inspections in the ward. This will help me identify service failures quickly.

I will set up volunteers to help monitor and report illegal dumping or broken pipes immediately. I will introduce a tracking system for resident complaints. I will make sure the city performs in line with the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for service delivery.

3. What specific plans do you have to improve community safety and reduce crime in the ward?

I will strengthen relationships between residents, EMPD and CPFs. I will support neighbourhood patrols. I will encourage residents to report crime. I will also push to have security cameras at entry points in the wards.

4. How will you ensure that residents are kept informed and involved in decisions affecting the community?

I will hold regular community meetings. I will also provide updates on WhatsApp
broadcast groups. I will use social media to provide residents with a platform to speak to me directly.

5. What will you do to support local businesses, informal traders and job creation in the ward?

I will support local businesses and informal traders by giving them a fair opportunity to win projects in the ward. I will help trades with permit applications. I will also ensure contractors hire residents from the ward for projects to give them job experience.

6. How will you improve conditions in informal settlements and underserved areas within the ward?

I will engage the Department of Human Settlements to enquire about the status of informal settlement formalisation in Ward 54. I will prioritise access to basic services, including water, sanitation, electricity, and waste removal, for informal settlements.

7. What is your plan to address infrastructure problems such as potholes, sewage spills, streetlights and illegal dumping?

I will engage EMPD to fine individuals and businesses for illegal dumping. I will push the city to provide infrastructure maintenance plans for the ward.

8. How will you ensure municipal funds allocated to the ward are spent transparently and effectively?

Residents should know what projects are planned and their progress. I will support transparent budgeting, monitor all projects properly, and communicate regularly.

9. What programmes or initiatives would you introduce for young people, women and vulnerable residents in the community?

I will partner with the private sector to establish local skills centres where youth can learn skills like computer literacy and interview preparation. I will also partner with NGOs to support shelters for victims of GBV.

10. If elected, how will residents be able to hold you accountable and measure your progress over the next five years?

I will hold regular public meetings for residents to meet me and ask questions. They can measure me by the IDP projects completed over the next 5 years.

Caxton Local Media invited Ekurhuleni mayoral candidates, as confirmed at the time of publication, to participate in a question-and-answer interview, giving voters a chance to learn more about their plans, priorities, and hopes for the city ahead of the Local Government Elections on November 4.

The views expressed in these questionnaires are those of the respective candidates and do not represent the views of Caxton Local Media or any of its publications.

The answers are intended solely to provide voters with information about the candidates contesting the election and to help them make informed choices at the polls.