Bedfordview and Edenvale News invited all ward councillor 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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The DA’s Ward 18 candidate Lisa Atkins commented as follows:

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

A: The deterioration of infrastructure and the lack of rehabilitation of work sites once an infrastructure failure has occurred.

This is severely impacting the state of the roads and pavements around Ward 18.

I want to conduct a full inspection of the ward and document all unrehabilitated sites in a register.

This register will then be used to hold each responsible department accountable for providing realistic timelines for repairs within their allocated budgets and available resources.

Where budgets are not enough, this will be escalated to the responsible MMC and HOD for each department to request intervention.

The total collapse of the Edenvale Parks Department has resulted in poor tree maintenance, long grass along road reserves, pavements and in parks throughout the ward.

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It is suspected that officials have allowed the deconstruction of this department to create dependence on contractors appointed through the tender process, opening the door to corruption.

I want to do a full assessment of the current state of vehicles, equipment, critical staff vacancies and consumables.

I can then use this to engage with the regional manager and, if necessary, the HOD to agree on a turnaround plan and timeline to get this depot functional again using the current staff complement instead of relying on contractors.

The increase in displaced persons living on the streets of our ward is concerning; I will continue engaging and working alongside the Department of Social Development to develop work programmes for those wanting to turn their lives around.

I will also continue engaging DSD on the creation of Shelters and Safe spaces to get the displaced into beds and off the streets.

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

A: Although Edenvale is in a far better position than other towns about its depots’ turnaround time to provide services, it is not just a matter of service delivery.

Systemic issues within each department date back 10 to 15 years and have worsened every year the current government has remained in power.

However, with the right management, budgets, projects, job ethic, training, etc., there is nothing that we cannot fix.

There are still good people in this city and at the Edenvale service depots who we can work with to turn things around.

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

A: Ward 18 has relatively lower crime levels by comparison to other surrounding areas, but even one incident of crime is too many.

We need to ensure a better working relationship between the Councillor, the CPF, SAPS, EMPD and our local security companies.

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After MP Ian Cameron visited the Kempton Park Police Station, it is no wonder crime is out of control in that area.

We need to bring back parliamentary and provincial oversight visits to Edenvale SAPS and EMPD and we need to relook at how ECPF can be strengthened to become an even more formidable crime deterrent.

This can also be achieved by using technology to our advantage. One example is implementing the Safer City Camera Network.

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

A: Through the continued use of existing community WhatsApp groups, Facebook and email.

Provide regular ward updates on upcoming projects and challenges facing the ward and hold regular community meetings to provide feedback on the state of the city and the ward.

This will also serve as a platform for residents to ask questions and voice concerns on a more personal level.

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

A: Regular engagement with Edenvale businesses; quicker escalation of infrastructure problems affecting trading not only of formal but of informal businesses as well.

I will drive strict compliance with business licenses and traders’ permits to give ethical businesses a fair chance to trade within the law and best serve the community.

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Essentially, we need to grow the economy and then our local businesses will grow.

Informal trading has its place, but we need revised informal trading bylaws to ensure it operates to the highest standards of hygiene and complies with other local bylaws.

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

A: Ward 18 does not have any informal settlements within its borders, but I will continue to work on identifying vulnerable households and individuals within the ward to ensure they are receiving indigent discounts and assistance from the local social workers, NPO’s and NGO’s.

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

A: To address these problems, budgets and resources available must first be increased and improved.
I intend to work closely with depot managers, supervisors, and Staff to develop plans to improve the required services.

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

A: This will be done through regular in-person meetings with depot managers responsible for budgets and implementation of projects and services.

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

A: I will continue supporting The Vuka Hub, which we initiated at the Khanyisa Trust for women and the youth initiatives at the Edenvale Sports Grounds to get the youth off the streets and into sports, thereby decreasing their risk of getting involved in drugs and crime.

I will also continue to support the Edenvale Senior Citizens Society, which provides an amazing service to the seniors in our ward and surrounding areas.

I will also continue to be involved with Essentially Edenvale in a supportive role, and I will also support Better Edenvale, both of which provide job opportunities through the Yes4Youth Program and for unemployed people seeking skills development and employment opportunities.

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

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A: Although it is difficult to hold a ward councillor accountable for service delivery from the depots. I will have regular monthly meetings with the customer care centre manager, whose role it is to account for service delivery.

At these meetings, I will address the ward’s concerns and needs on an ongoing basis.

I will continue to provide transparent and honest information and feedback to my residents, and I will be available to assist via WhatsApp, phone, email, or in person where necessary. I want to be seen as a councillor working on the ground rather than from behind a screen.