WITH the 2026 Local Government Elections just around the corner, councillors will be elected for all district, metropolitan and local municipalities across the country’s nine provinces.

The Highway Mail asked councillor candidates for Ward 18 why voters should vote for them in the upcoming Local Government Elections and what experience they bring which will help them perform at their best as councillors should they be elected.

Also read: Basic services a priority for Upper Highway voters

First, we speak to Wakhile Sifundza from the EFF whose promise is: “If elected as Ward 18 councillor in eThekwini Municipality, my priority will be to improve service delivery, create job opportunities, and improve the lives for all residents.”

That is the main promise made by Sifundza, who said his priorities for the Ward would include:

• Ensuring that Sassa beneficiaries are provided with free water and electricity and that their municipal water and electricity debts are cleared.

• I will fight for reliable electricity and water by strengthening municipal maintenance teams to repair, maintain, and secure our substations. I will push for an end to unnecessary spending on expensive external contractors and prioritise skilled municipal workers.

• I will push for clinics serving Ward 18 and surrounding communities to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, where feasible.

• I will work with the municipality to turn abandoned buildings into safe community spaces, social housing, trading areas for small businesses, and rehabilitation centres to help young people struggling with substance abuse. I will also push for improved security at Pinetown CBD taxi ranks and other busy areas where crime is common. This will include working with the police and relevant stakeholders to improve safety, protect residents and commuters, and create a safer environment for businesses to operate. My goal is to give our youth a chance to rebuild their lives while making our communities safer for everyone.

• I will establish representative ward committees in Ward 18 to ensure that all sections of our community have a voice in local decision-making. I will hold monthly community meetings where residents can raise concerns about water leaks, electricity interruptions, poor sanitation, illegal dumping, crime around busy areas and taxi ranks, and the lack of job opportunities for young people. Every complaint will be recorded, reported to the relevant eThekwini Municipality department, and followed up until progress is made, with regular feedback provided to residents. I will also push for transparent reporting on ward projects, municipal spending, and service delivery so that residents can see what is being done with public resources. Through these actions, I aim to promote accountable, transparent, and corruption-free governance where the people of Ward 18 participate in decisions and hold their elected representatives responsible for delivering results.

“The above-mentioned priorities are the key issues I intend to address within my first 100 days as Ward 18 councillor. However, this is only the beginning, as there is still much more I want to achieve for the people of Ward 18. My commitment is to continue listening to residents, addressing their concerns, and fighting for better service delivery, job opportunities, safety, and improved living conditions for all,” said Sifundza.

Background:

 Sifundza was an LRC member at MC Zitha Combined School in 2022.

He was also a member of the UKZN Student Parliament in 2022, and served in the Parliament programming committee.

He was the EFF’s Youth Command Edgewood Branch founding secretary in 2025.

He is also the party’s eThekwini Ward 18 co-ordinator for 2025-2026.

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