As the year kicks into full swing, Ward 92 Councillor Kade Guerreiro applauds the community for their proactiveness throughout the past year.

He commended residents and organisations that came together to assist in addressing various challenges that arose.

“We had a productive year with our community outreach programmes, including soup kitchens and clean-up initiatives,” he said.

With things getting underway, Guerreiro outlined his plans for 2026.

In recent months the ward has experienced frequent electricity outages, with residents waiting weeks for power to be restored.

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For 2026, Guerreiro intends to push the council and the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to prioritise a full energy upgrade, as well as the completion of long-standing projects that were previously delayed due to budget constraints.

Since 2026 is a local council election year, and with the community on the road to the local government elections, Guerreiro urged residents to continue registering to vote.

“There are six voting stations in Ward 92. Once registered, residents will receive a notification indicating where they will cast their vote,” he said.

“It is important that everyone votes and elects the representatives they want in their area. In the ward, we have 36 000 residents, and 17 000 are registered to vote.

“We also acknowledge that some areas, such as Elandsfontein, continue to struggle with power, sewer, and other service delivery issues, while other areas, like Sunnyridge, still face challenges with water security,” Guerreiro added.

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“Our IDP remains largely the same. We are requesting the reblocking of Emabhondeni informal settlement, the construction of a multi-purpose taxi rank, and the completion of the Klopper Park fire station.

“In the ward, we also acknowledge the need to upgrade the Klopper Park Clinic and the mobile police station based in Elandsfontein,” he said.

Guerreiro highlighted that, as the year gets fully underway, he hopes most service delivery issues across the ward will be addressed, provided the budget is available.

“We need streetlights repaired, bins collected, and grass cut promptly. In Woodmere, I hope the next phase of fixing the sinkholes continues so we can assist more households affected by them,” he added.

With his term ending on the day of voting, Guerreiro believes he stands a strong chance of being re-elected as Ward 92’s representative.

He highlighted that a major challenge in the ward remains the lack of resources for schools.

“Most of our schools are functional, but Ithembelihle LSEN School is still trying to secure more JoJo tanks in case of water shortages.

“Laerskool Oosterkruin is still seeking improvements to its road infrastructure, and Sizwe Secondary has struggled the most with sewage infrastructure collapse and occasional flooding.

“Klopper Park Primary School, however, received new classrooms from the Department of Education, which will help address overcrowding,” said Guerreiro.

“We need to start repairing the Korhaan water tower, construct a new tower, and begin the process of building an additional reservoir.

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“To help address these challenges, we previously signed petitions, which were submitted to Parliament and Rand Water.

“Firstly, Ekurhuleni and Rand Water need to work together to ensure a constant water supply, especially considering that much of Ward 92 is on a mountain, making it one of the first areas to experience shortages.

“Ekurhuleni needs to prioritise water infrastructure and water security by updating existing systems and building additional storage,” he added.

“The city must ensure emergency procedures are in place and that JoJo tanks and water tankers are constantly available.

“During every water crisis, I personally drive around helping over 100 elderly residents access water. The city must ensure that schools and the elderly are prioritised,” said Guerreiro.

He also addressed crime in the area, noting that metal and infrastructure theft is at an all-time high, drugs are on the rise, and house burglaries with assault have increased.

“The SAPS is under severe strain. I must thank the CPF and local security groups who work daily to protect our community, as well as members of the public who have taken it upon themselves to safeguard Ekurhuleni’s infrastructure.

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“We are still serviced by Bedfordview and Primrose police stations. We have witnessed disturbing crimes, including rape, domestic violence and GBV cases, murder, and theft,” said Guerreiro.

“We did have some roads redone, and that is a massive win for the ward. Some residential roads have also been upgraded,” he said.

“Keeping open spaces clean and free of illegal structures is an uphill battle. We also see mass illegal dumping in some areas, and more often than not, it is our own residents responsible.

“This means that other residents end up cleaning to keep our community free of waste and rodents. I encourage all residents to report illegal dumping to the city, and I urge those who are dumping illegally to use the city’s landfill sites to help keep Ward 92 clean.

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“We are also requesting that streetlights be made fully functional and that more signage be installed at intersections.

“A big shoutout goes to Essential Edenvale, Better Primrose, Better Edenvale, and other organisations that contribute to the overall upkeep of the community,” said Guerreiro.