Meet Johannesburg by-election candidates

In the heart of Johannesburg, by-election candidates are stepping up to tackle service delivery failures and bring change to their communities. From fighting illegal dumping and fixing crumbling infrastructure, to empowering residents and restoring hope, these leaders are driven by a shared vision for a cleaner, safer neighbourhood. Meet some of the candidates from different political parties vying for your vote in the upcoming by-elections on April 2.

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Hendrik Bodenstein, representing the Democratic Alliance (DA), is committed to improving service delivery in Ward 99, emphasising accountability and community engagement. His focus is on upgrading road maintenance, water, and electricity infrastructure, while ensuring regular communication with residents. Bodenstein has led several community initiatives, including organising DA’s participation in Johannesburg Pride, and raising awareness about Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. He highlights deteriorating municipal services, illegal dumping, and infrastructure vandalism as pressing concerns. Inspired by Nicole van Dyk’s work, he plans to build on her legacy and collaborate with the community to drive sustainable improvements, and protect public spaces through park adoption initiatives.

Timothy Moagi, representing the African National Congress (ANC), is determined to be a voice for the voiceless in Ward 82, driven by witnessing severe service delivery failures in his community. His plan includes bringing government services like health and home affairs directly to residents, especially helping undocumented individuals gain access to healthcare and education. Moagi identifies interconnected issues of water, electricity, sanitation, and housing as priorities, stressing the need for comprehensive solutions. Rooted in the community, Moagi aims to restore hope and create a cleaner, safer environment by actively working toward solutions, rather than waiting for change.

ANC’s Nombuso Mbali’s drive to represent Ward 99 stems from seeing residents live without access to basic services. Her vision includes bringing mobile clinics and home affairs services to the community, while addressing the housing, water, and electricity crises. She highlights issues like sewage leaks, unsafe electrical connections, and a housing backlog dating back to 1996. Mbali believes service delivery issues are interconnected and need urgent, holistic intervention. Waste management is a top priority, requiring constant oversight. Committed to improving her home community, she hopes to create a cleaner, safer environment where residents no longer feel forced to leave.

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Marilyne Smouse, from the Patriotic Alliance, is passionate about her community, and drives her bid to represent Ward 82. As a lifelong resident and community activist, she aims to restore the ward’s dignity through open communication and improved service delivery. Smouse  will focus on crime, gangsterism, illegal dumping, and decaying infrastructure, especially water and electricity. She plans to highlight residents’ struggles in council, pushing for new capital projects and infrastructure upgrades. Her goal is to unite the community behind a shared vision for change, leveraging her firsthand experience to fight for basic rights and tackle unemployment and drug abuse head-on.

From Al Jama-Ah, Baaki Mohamed’s experience as an Imaam opened his eyes to the deep-rooted social challenges in Ward 82. His plan emphasizes community-driven action, tackling drug abuse, gangsterism, and unemployment through collaboration and empowerment. Mohamed highlights the collapse of local industries as a key factor behind economic decline and growing hopelessness. He criticises systemic exclusion from employment opportunities and advocates ending discriminatory practices like affirmative action. Mohamed sees restoring community morale as crucial to addressing societal issues. Committed to uplifting the people, he hopes to spark change by mobilising residents and reviving pride in their skills and self-sufficiency.

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