Ward 20 candidate Brenda Ayliffe sets out priorities for Bedfordview

Bedfordview Edenvale News invited all ward councillors candidates 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 questionnaires are intended solely to provide voters with information about the candidates contesting the election and to help them make informed choices at the polls.

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Democratic Alliance Ward 20 candidate Brenda Ayliffe:

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

A: “The three critical areas requiring urgent focus in our ward are water security, road infrastructure degradation, and community safety. We face inconsistent supply and delays in repairing infrastructure leaks. My approach is to work constructively with municipal technical teams to flag issues early and ensure they are accurately prioritised within the city’s maintenance schedule.

“A perfect example of how we can address these challenges sustainably is through innovative public-private-government partnerships. Approximately two years ago, the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) structured an incredible opportunity through the Community Work Programme (CWP), appointing a private partner, Efficiency Staffing Solutions (ESS). Under this initiative, ESS offered to provide the City of Ekurhuleni with entirely free maintenance teams, vehicles, and equipment to repair our water bursts, sewer blockages, and potholes.

“Even better, the program is designed to employ and train local unemployed persons from disadvantaged communities, paying them a monthly stipend at no cost to the municipality. The city would only need to provide the raw repair materials. Our roads bear the brunt of unresolved water leaks and unpermitted heavy commercial vehicles bypassing highway traffic. I will advocate for stricter enforcement of local traffic by-laws and structured maintenance schedules to protect our passenger vehicle infrastructure. Crime remains a top priority, which I will address through deep community partnerships.”

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

A: “It is a common public misconception that a ward councillor has direct executive authority or a personal budget to deploy repair teams. Under the South African legislative framework, a councillor serves as a statutory conduit and structural watchdog.

“My strategy relies on building a robust, transparent partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni’s administration. By maintaining open, professional channels with municipal department heads and using the formal Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, I will ensure our ward’s service delivery needs are precisely documented and prioritised. I aim to hold the municipality accountable to its service level standards while working collaboratively to help it overcome resource constraints.”

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

A: “True security is built on collaborative networks. I plan to actively champion and support established local initiatives like the Safer Bedfordview project, which serves as an excellent blueprint for localised safety. By fostering tight communication loops between the SAPS, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, the Bedfordview Community Policing Forum, local security agencies, and business owners, we can create a proactive safety umbrella. My role will be to facilitate these stakeholders’ cooperation and keep our safety structures highly integrated.”

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

A: “Information must be immediate, accessible, and structured. We have an incredibly active community network, and I will continue to leverage our established problem-specific WhatsApp reporting groups, real-time broadcast channels, and community Facebook pages for daily updates. Furthermore, I am committed to hosting formal, regular public meetings.”

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

A: “Economic vitality depends on an environment that balances commercial growth with local regulation. I aim to spearhead structured business compliance and support workshops in partnership with local business forums. These initiatives will guide informal traders and small businesses through City of Ekurhuleni by-laws to ensure compliance while removing barriers to formalisation. By promoting precinct cleanliness and working with safety structures, we can create thriving commercial nodes that naturally stimulate local job creation.”

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Q: How will you improve conditions in informal settlements and underserved areas within the ward?

A: “While Ward 20 in Bedfordview does not contain traditional informal settlements within its immediate geographic boundaries, we do not exist in a vacuum. Bedfordview has a deeply ingrained culture of philanthropy and social responsibility, regularly extending assistance to underserved neighbouring communities. I intend to coordinate a structured network of volunteers and local businesses to run sustainable outreach projects. We will focus our collaborative efforts on impactful initiatives that uplift vulnerable families in adjacent areas, reinforcing Bedfordview’s long-standing tradition of care.”

Q: What is your plan to address infrastructure problems such as potholes, sewage spills, streetlights, and illegal dumping?
A: “A realistic infrastructure plan requires data-driven advocacy and community-led reporting. I will implement a localised ‘report and track’ system, working alongside residents to log infrastructure failures meticulously through municipal channels. For systemic issues like illegal dumping and recurring sewage spills, I will advocate within council for targeted budget allocations while organising community-led clean-up drives to reclaim public spaces. By presenting clear, documented infrastructure audits directly to departmental oversight committees, we can secure realistic turnaround times from the city.”

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

A: “Transparency relies heavily on the active participation of our residents during the municipal budget cycles. I will ensure that the capital budget per ward allocation and draft service delivery and budget implementation plans are broken down into clear, plain language for the community. Through open public workshops during the annual Ekurhuleni IDP and budget consultative windows, residents will be able to see exactly where allocations are proposed. My role is to act as the community’s financial watchdog, ensuring that approved projects are delivered honestly and efficiently.”

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

A: “As a new ward councillor, my focus is on launching highly doable, high-impact programs that do not rely on heavy municipal funding. I plan to facilitate skills-sharing networks and mentorship circles by pairing retired professionals and local business leaders with young job-seekers and women looking to enter the market. Additionally, I will establish safe, structured communication links with local social services and NGOs to ensure that our elderly and vulnerable residents have immediate access to welfare support systems when emergencies arise.”

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

A: “Accountability is a commitment I take seriously. Residents will be able to measure my performance through regularly published ward progress reports, detailing which community issues have been escalated, municipal responses, and the status of IDP objectives. I will maintain a completely open-door policy via our scheduled ward committee meetings, giving residents a predictable, formal space to review my actions, ask hard questions, and keep our goals strictly aligned over the next five years.”