Residents in Wentworth Park and the CBD have called on municipal leaders to prioritise public healthcare, service delivery, and infrastructure improvements ahead of the local government elections.

Collen Gibbs, a Wentworth Park resident, said public healthcare should be a primary area of improvement, especially for senior citizens who cannot afford private care.

“Private healthcare is very expensive, and many elders who I know personally rely on SASSA grants, which is not feasible if you want private healthcare,” he said.

Restoring municipal infrastructure

CBD resident Tercia Rautenbach said she hopes to see better maintenance of infrastructure in the city centre, which she described as the heart of the town.

“Whenever you go to the CBD, there are not a whole lot of examples you can point to that say we have a functioning municipality,” she said.

“Traffic lights are never working, and there are abandoned buildings that attract criminals,” Rautenbach added that she hopes restoring basic service delivery will bring back pride to the area.

Focusing on transparency and accountability

Louise de Jager urged the local government to focus on basic services while improving transparency and accountability.

“Working in public service is a calling, and I believe it is important that whoever wins the elections is honest and sincere about making a difference,” she said.