The Brakpan Herald invited political parties to submit information on candidates contesting Wards 31, 97 and 105 in Brakpan. The profiles are based on information supplied by the respective candidates. Not all parties responded by the submission deadline.

Magendrin Naicker (known as Jessy Naicker)
Ward: 31
Party: Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus)

• What are your top three priorities for this ward?

1. Reliable services, local business and accountability
   I will track residents’ complaints, follow up with departments and check completed repairs. I will press for reliable services and ensure Ward 31’s needs are reflected in plans and budgets.
2. Community safety
   I will work with residents, SAPS, EMPD, and the CPF to identify hotspots, support visible patrols and address broken lights and neglected public spaces.
3. Resident engagement
   I will represent residents in council and report back through regular ward meetings. I will help residents track concerns and find job, training and business opportunities, especially for young people.

• Why should residents vote for you, based on your track record and plans?
  Residents should vote for me because I have lived in Ward 31 for 32 years and served its residents for more than seven.
  I have organised charity drives, helped residents with service delivery and indigent applications, and represented the community at IDP meetings.

I have also addressed water, electricity, drainage and maintenance concerns, secured stop signs after traffic lights were stolen, and pushed for road markings to be restored.

I will bring the same dedication and availability to my work as councillor, striving for service excellence and a stronger ward where residents are heard.

Drummond Doig
Ward: 97
Party: DA

• What are your top three priorities for this ward?

1. Strict by-law enforcement. EMPD must be equipped and staffed properly so that littering, illegal dumping, squatting in public spaces, urinating in public, drinking alcohol in public is properly dealt with
2. Protection of infrastructure. Vandals are stripping infrastructure as fast as it is repaired. Heavy vehicles are damaging roads. Electricity boxes are open to the elements. Staff need to have spares available to do proper repairs.

3.The repair of the main road into town from Benoni. The main road past The Rock Raceway needs to be completely re-done, this includes the damaged main road through the ex Plastic City.

• Why should residents vote for you, based on your track record and plans?
  It took eight years of fighting on a daily basis to get rid of Plastic City. I do not give up when my mind is set on something, and my mind is set on bringing Ward 97 up to world class standards again.

Funds that are currently being stolen, or wasted on shoddy work by contractors must rather be spent on making the residents of Ward 97 proud to stay here.

All residents of this ward, including the Mgongo people need proper, fair and effective service delivery. The broken window approach will apply.

Adriaan Pieter van Zyl (known as Riaan van Zyl)
Ward: 97
Party: Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus)

• What are your top three priorities for this ward?

My priorities are simple: services, safety and accountability. Residents pay for electricity, water, roads, refuse removal and maintained infrastructure, and they deserve reliable services.

I want a cleaner and safer Brakpan through proper by-law enforcement and continued cooperation with the CPF, SAPS, EMPD, security companies, AfriForum and our residents.

Most importantly, I want accountable representation. A councillor must be accessible, communicate honestly, follow problems through and be willing to stand with residents when things go wrong.

Brakpan belongs to its community, and municipal resources must work for that community.

• Why should residents vote for you, based on your track record and plans?
  You know me. I did not arrive in Brakpan because there is an election. As a PR councillor, I have worked across
  Brakpan through power and water outages, failing roads and infrastructure, safety concerns, illegal dumping and countless individual service-delivery problems.

I have worked alongside our CPF, AfriForum, security companies, community organisations and, most importantly, our residents.

I cannot promise that every problem will be solved overnight. I can promise that I will show up, answer, communicate honestly and keep fighting for solutions.

If I achieved this as a PR councillor, imagine what I can do as your ward councillor.

Tefo Benedict Maimela
Ward: 105
Party: ANC

• What are your top three priorities for this ward?

1.To provide water, lights and other services that are affordable and work for all.

2. Ceate more work and investment where people live.
3. Promote safer streets, clean neighbourhoods and healthier communities.

• Why should residents vote for you, based on your track record and plans?
  People should vote for us because the ANC has shown in so many years that it works for everyone, non-racial, non-sexist, and it chooses the right people to represent it.

Personally I’ve been involved in helping communities whenever families struggle to bury their loved ones. I always extend helping hands.

I also assist in bringing services closer to the people. The plan is to deal with crime as a priority and to make sure vulnerable areas have access to clean water.

Kim van Zyl
Ward: 105
Party: Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus)

• What are your top three priorities for this ward?
  My priorities are reliable services, a cleaner and safer community, and accountable representation. Residents deserve electricity, water, functioning roads, streetlights, sewage systems and infrastructure that is properly maintained.

I want stronger action against cable theft, illegal dumping and neglected public spaces, with better cooperation between the municipality and our community.

My third priority is being accessible. Residents deserve a councillor who listens, responds, follows up and keeps them informed.

I believe communities must have a real say in decisions affecting them, and every rand residents pay should be used responsibly for the services they deserve.

• Why should residents vote for you, based on your track record and plans?
  I served Brakpan before I became a candidate. For the past five years I have been actively involved in community clean-ups, charity initiatives and projects to improve neglected areas.

As a co-founder of Clean Brakpan, I learned that change starts when ordinary people stop waiting for someone else and get involved.

I have stood up for community issues, including helping drive a petition signed by more than 500 residents over the neglected Brenthurst tennis club.

I care about this community, I know its challenges and I am prepared to work. I am not promising involvement – I’ve already demonstrated it.