With the 2026 local government elections approaching, Ward 96 residents can get to know the candidates vying to represent their community. Meet the candidates, learn more about their priorities and find out what they hope to achieve if elected as ward councillor.

All candidates were invited to submit responses to questions. The responses published below are included here. This article will be updated as further candidates submit their responses.

The areas include Chartwell, Dainfern, Diepsloot, Lanseria, Riverside View, Broadacres, Lion Pride and surrounding areas.

Rufas Maswazi, the incumbent ANC councillor of Ward 96

In one sentence, who are you?
My name is Rufas Maswazi, the incumbent councillor of Ward 96. I am a community leader and councillor committed to improving service delivery, creating opportunities, and ensuring residents’ concerns are heard and acted upon.

What are the biggest issues facing your ward currently?
The biggest challenges are basic service delivery, unemployment, and lack of community infrastructure. These include unreliable water supply, sanitation and sewer challenges, refuse collection backlogs, electricity, roads, and street lighting. Riverside View’s rapid growth has created pressure on schools, healthcare, policing and public transport. Informal settlements, such as Thabo Mbeki, Diepsloot Ext 12 & 13 and Ga Malatji, require improved sanitation, electrification and basic services.

What practical solutions would you prioritise should you be named councillor of your ward?
I would strengthen accountability for municipal service delivery, ensure reported problems are tracked until resolved, and accelerate infrastructure investment. I would prioritise a permanent clinic and schools for Riverside View, fast-track the Thabo Mbeki mega project, improve water and sanitation, address refuse collection and road maintenance, and expand electricity and street lighting. I would also strengthen partnerships between government, developers and communities to unlock projects such as the Lanseria smart city.

What is one misconception about you or your party that you would clarify?
A common misconception is that councillors control every municipal service or receive a personal ward-development budget for their five-year term. A councillor represents residents, escalates issues, holds the administration accountable, and advocates for resources. I also want to strengthen civic education, so residents understand how local government works.

Should your party’s candidate be named mayor, what issue should they address first?
The priorities should be reliable basic services, sound financial management, accountability, infrastructure investment, and the city’s service-delivery backlog. The incoming mayor must look into the incorrect billing issues experienced by the residents of Broadacres, Riverside View, and Lion Pride. Johannesburg needs a responsive administration that spends public money responsibly and delivers visible improvements in communities.

Other candidates are encouraged to email the editor, Aimee McGill, at Aimeed@caxton.co.za.