DA Ward 16 candidate Hendrik Jacobus (Jaco) Terblanche says reliable service delivery, better roads and safer neighbourhoods would remain key priorities if he is re-elected.

Terblanche says his 15 years as a ward councillor have given him experience in listening to residents, raising concerns with the City of Ekurhuleni and following up on service-delivery problems.

His priorities include functioning streetlights, reliable electricity and water, road maintenance, crime prevention and the enforcement of municipal by-laws.

He also raises concerns about properties he believes may be operating or have been built without the necessary approvals. Terblanche says he would work with residents and the municipality to address alleged non-compliance through the appropriate processes.

In his questionnaire, he lists several achievements from his time as councillor, including park upgrades, streetlight repairs and a reservoir project serving Aston Manor and Glen Marais.

Here, Terblanche explains his priorities and how he believes residents should assess his performance.

1. Please introduce yourself to residents. Who are you, and what experience, skills or community involvement do you believe are relevant to serving as a ward councillor?

My name is Jaco Terblanche, and I am standing for Ward 16 councillor because I care about our community and want to help ensure reliable service delivery for everyone.

My experience as a ward councillor has taught me to listen, bring people together and follow through on practical solutions. I will bring those skills to the role, along with a willingness to hear residents’ concerns, raise them with the municipality and keep the community informed about progress.

I believe a councillor should be accessible, responsive and accountable. I will work with residents across the ward to identify priorities and advocate for services that benefit everyone in our community.

2. Why have you decided to stand for election in this ward? What motivated you to put yourself forward as a candidate?

I have decided to stand because I want to help make our ward a better place to live. I care about the challenges residents face every day, and I am ready to listen, speak up for the community and work with others to find practical solutions.

I am putting myself forward to bring residents’ concerns into the decisions that affect them and to ensure our ward receives the attention and representation it deserves.

3. What do you believe are the three biggest challenges currently facing your ward?

The three biggest challenges facing the ward are:

• Streetlights: Inadequate or faulty lighting.
• Road conditions: Roads in poor condition.
• Increasing crime.

4. If elected, what would be your top three priorities during your first year in office?

Reliable electricity and clean water: I will work to ensure a sustainable electricity supply in the ward, including functioning streetlights. Residents should also have a constant supply of clean water at home, and water leaks must be repaired promptly.

Quality roads for all residents: Residents deserve well-maintained roads that are free of potholes and have clear road markings.

Fighting crime and enforcing the law: I will promote a programme that helps residents and businesses comply with municipal by-laws and relevant legislation. Liquor outlets and second-hand goods shops must meet the requirements that apply to them. I will work with the relevant departments and law-enforcement agencies to ensure that by-laws and laws are enforced.

5. What specific steps would you take to address the biggest service-delivery challenges in the ward?

I will report potholes to the municipality’s Roads Department and keep the reference numbers. If a pothole is not repaired, I will escalate the complaint to the relevant offices, including the head of department and the City Manager.

I will also involve the community by organising a petition to the municipality. If the complaint remains unresolved, I will refer the matter to the Public Protector and ask it to investigate whether the municipality has failed to repair the pothole in line with its minimum service-delivery standards.

6. What would you do to improve communication between the ward councillor, residents and the City of Ekurhuleni?

Communication with residents is very important to me. I will be a voice for the residents of the City of Ekurhuleni and share feedback on the services the municipality provides, both positive and negative.

I encourage all residents to join our communication channels so they can stay informed about service delivery, raise concerns and share their experiences.

7. How would you ensure that residents’ concerns are followed up and that they receive feedback on issues reported to you?

It is very important to me that residents receive feedback. I will share updates through communication channels, at the information table, during community and street meetings, and in one-on-one conversations.

8. What do you believe is one issue in the ward that has not received enough attention, and what would you do about it if elected?

The biggest problem in my ward is non-compliance with the City of Ekurhuleni’s by-laws and town-planning scheme.

I understand that more than 300 properties may have been built without approved plans or are operating as boarding houses, room rentals or guesthouses without the required zoning.

This kind of non-compliance contributes to the deterioration of our neighbourhoods and can undermine residents’ safety and quality of life. I will work with our communities to help property owners understand and meet the requirements.

Where businesses or properties remain non-compliant, I will ask the municipality to enforce the relevant rules, which may include closing businesses or demolishing structures where legally justified.

Together, we can take pride in our suburbs and help make them safe, well-maintained places to live.

9. How would you measure your performance as a ward councillor? What should residents be able to hold you accountable for at the end of your term?

Residents should hold me accountable for how well I serve them:

• Did I do everything within my power to help?
• Was I visible in the ward?
• Was I available to residents?

It matters to me that residents can see I am here to serve them and judge me by whether my actions show it.

10. Why should residents consider you when deciding who to vote for as their ward councillor?

A proven record of getting things done for all residents.

For the past 15 years, I have served as your ward councillor and worked to deliver practical improvements for our area. My achievements include:

• Removing the illegal informal settlement in Glen Marais.
• Helping reduce cable theft in the area.
• Closing liquor outlets that did not comply with the Gauteng Liquor Act.
• Securing the construction of a new reservoir for Aston Manor and Glen Marais. Work is ongoing.
• Upgrading parks with new play equipment.
• Repairing 55% of the streetlights since 2021.

I also initiated the upgrade of the Kempton Park Swimming Pool, which had been neglected and was at risk of becoming an informal settlement.

Service delivery is a priority for me. My track record shows that I stand up for residents and keep following up on complaints until they are resolved.