Ward 7 councillor reflects on five-year term as he bids farewell to Thembisa community
Thabang Jiyane says property-related evictions, title deeds and ongoing service delivery challenges were among the major issues he faced during his time as Ward 7 councillor.
As his five-year term comes to an end on November 4, Ward 7 councillor Thabang Jiyane is reflecting on his time serving the Thembisa community, highlighting both the progress made and the challenges that remain unresolved.
During his term, Jiyane was involved in addressing residents’ service delivery concerns, engaging with the community and assisting with various ward-related matters.
He said one of the biggest challenges he faced was the ongoing issue of property-related evictions, which he said had roots dating back to 1991.
“One of the challenges in this ward dates back to 1991 and has to do with property ownership. The company that originally owned these houses sold its interests, leaving residents with complications involving the bank,” Jiyane explained.
He said some residents were now facing eviction, with outstanding municipal accounts and property valuations also contributing to their difficulties.
“We have inherited the problems of the past, and those affected are often elderly people who bought these houses when they were young. This challenge also affects their ability to receive services from the city,” he said.
Jiyane identified assisting residents with obtaining title deeds as another important part of his work. He said he had managed to complete approximately 90% of the work during his term.
Other concerns raised by residents included sewage spillages, which he said were compounded by ageing drainage infrastructure and the area’s growing population, partly due to the number of rental properties.
Electricity supply problems linked to substations were also among the issues residents brought to his attention. He further highlighted the alleged theft of water from fire hydrants and the illegal sale of gas cylinders as concerns in the community.
As he prepares to leave office, Jiyane said he wanted to apologise to residents for the issues he had not managed to resolve.
“As I leave office, I would like to apologise to the community for what I failed to address in terms of their concerns. Whoever takes over should do everything possible to fulfil the needs of the community,” he said.
Jiyane cast his special vote on Monday at Bertharry English Private School in Thembisa.
