Wrapping up 2025, Ward 19 Alderman Bill Rundle described 2025 as being a very busy year.

It was marked by the continued failure of the City of Ekurhuleni to provide regular, quality, and efficient services.

He said the existing infrastructure, already under pressure due to its age, did not see much maintenance and continued to deteriorate.

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Comparing 2024 to 2025, Rundle stated that the deterioration already present in 2024 continued in 2025.

“The main causes, for example, such as financial mismanagement, caused a lack of available budget and funding. A lack of fleet vehicle maintenance were big contributor to the continued decline,” said Rundle.

Speaking about some of the highlights during 2025, Rundle highlighted the completion of the Verge Shopping Centre in Linksfield, which he believes will bring much-needed investment and job creation to Edenvale.

Another highlight for the ward was the total revamp of the Kwik Spar Shopping Centre in Dowerglen, which is increasing and improving shopping convenience and availability in the area.

Another was the acquisition of several properties in Edenvale by local business owners and upgrading them, such as the old Hyundai building by the well-established Auto Primo Viera Motor Dealership group. Several blocks of flats were also revamped and modernised to support residents moving into Edenvale.

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“Not very noticeable are the business entrepreneurs who are buying up old homes and upgrading them to improve residential accommodation.

“Money and investors are returning to Edenvale after an investment drought in the town that has lasted several years,” said Rundle.

Rundle said the effort of the Roads Department depot to rebuild, upgrade, and strengthen some of the embankments of the Eastleigh Spruit can be viewed as a small contribution to the long-standing project.

He said another achievement was the rebuilding of the section of Andries Pretorius Road between Central Avenue and Terrace Road, as the road was in poor condition.

This also applies to the two lanes of Linksfield Road from First Avenue to the Linksfield Bridge, where the condition was deteriorating very fast on this high-volume, high-mobility main road connecting many of the major highways, N3, R24, and Modderfontein Road.

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“Another highlight of the year was the excellent work done by the members of the Ward 19 Ward committee in addressing issues of unemployment, health clinic dysfunction, engaging with community groups in sporting activities, drug awareness programs, youth unemployment and economic development issues like the Eastleigh Spruit where Alderman Eddie Taylor secured engagement with officials, business owners and an awaited risk assessment report evaluation to show the way forward,” said Rundle.

Speaking about some of 2025’s challenges, Rundle pointed out a lack of service delivery in fixing potholes and storm water systems, grass cutting and maintenance of trees and parks, by-law enforcement, maintaining adequate response times for water leaks, sewage spills – all due to mobility constraints from a lack of vehicles from a failed Fleet Maintenance Department.

“Thankfully, waste removal appears to have been maintained, and the Energy Department, which is also subject to challenges, managed to maintain a clean sheet,” said Rundle.

Rundle said there is still the unresolved matter of the out-of-control construction and building by property owners to increase residential units. He said the City Planning Department has its hands full.

“Speeding and reckless driving by some motorists who put other road users at risk remains an issue, and law enforcement is minimal.

“You know there is a problem when almost R50k in traffic citations is recorded for speeding and other traffic offenses in the town throughout the year.”

Plans for 2026

Looking to the new year, Rundle hopes to have the Eastleigh Spruit Risk Assessment report tabled while pushing to get more potholes and road systems, and the town’s water systems repaired.

Rundle said this year he hopes to see greater by-law enforcement to reduce criminal behaviour on the roads while also seeing the municipal depots, such as parks, roads, and water, become more functional to address the backlog.

He said an absolute imperative is the return of the financial well-being of the metro in order to pay service providers on time.

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“I will continue to expose and report fraud and corruption through my legislative work as the Shadow MMC for Transport Planning and Roads and Storm Water for the CoE DA Caucus Oversight.

“Over a period of nearly 15 years, my team and I have referred several matters to Internal Audit and the MPAC Committee for investigation.

“Serving on the MPAC Committee for the past six years in oversight has been traumatic in terms of the many cases reported and investigated for Irregular, Wasteful, and Fruitless expenditure,” said Rundle.

He highlighted that there has been progress.

“When one considers an opening balance of over R3b in 2019 when I started, some cases up to 12 years old and now down to R1.5b, with many of the older cases now being finalised.”

Speaking to the community, Rundle said he wishes for cooperative efforts from residents and community groups in bridging the period where we are not being supported by CoE in terms of service delivery.

This can, however, not continue indefinitely, and 2026 will present an opportunity for citizens to cast their votes for change in the scheduled local government elections in 2026.

“You cannot keep supporting a failed system with the hope that better outcomes will be produced; changes in operation, management, and governance are required ASAP.

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“We must not lose hope; the corruption and fraud in CoE and elsewhere are being exposed, and even though reluctantly, those responsible are being called to order and brought to book.

“There will be a change for the better. For now, we have to rely on hope and good faith that good will prevail.”

He said the truth is like water; it does not matter what you do to contain it, one day, someday it will get through, and you will have wet feet, just ask those who now have wet feet due to the truth being told.

Rundle thanked the community groups and residents who have made an effort to resolve issues.

He thanked the residents of Ward 19 and Edenvale, who have supported him and Alderman Heather Hart of Ward 18 in doing their work.