As 2025 draws to a close, Ward 134 Councillor Devon Steenkamp expressed gratitude to residents, reflected on service-delivery gains and setbacks, and shared a message of hope for the year ahead.

“Thank you for your patience, grit, and belief that Johannesburg can work again. May this festive season bring rest, safety and renewed hope,” said Steenkamp. “I remain committed to fighting for reliable services and accountable governance in 2026.”

Read more: Ward 134 councillor hopes to create a stronger connection within the community

He said that working alongside the community on key service delivery oversight was one of his highlights of 2022. Together, they pushed for accountability in areas neglected by the multi-party coalition government and made real progress on issues such as water security, road maintenance, and community safety.

“I am especially proud of projects coming to Ward 134 like water pipe replacements in Sundowner, road resurfacing on Puttick and CR Swart Drive, and the rehabilitation of Drysdale Road that was damaged by storms.”
Steenkamp said his local hero is not one person, but the collective resident volunteer, the neighbour who reports faults, joins clean-ups, helps vulnerable people, or steps in when the state falls short. “Their quiet courage has carried our ward through some of the toughest periods.”

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A standout moment for him was the implementation of the Kya Sand landfill project, addressing the urgent need for a waste-transfer or waste-facility site in the northern part of Johannesburg, as well as the reopening of the Drysdale dip bridge. “It showed what can be achieved when residents and councillors push together for results.”

Despite these victories, Ward 134, like many others, faced significant challenges. According to Steenkamp, the ward’s biggest struggle has been the collapse of basic services under the current administration: long-running water outages, deteriorating roads and substations, and poor communication from city entities.

“We overcame this by staying persistent, escalating every case, and using oversight tools to hold officials accountable. The lesson is simple: transparency and urgency must guide governance.”

Looking ahead, he said his wish for the Christmas season is for stronger institutional cooperation, faster response times, and a city leadership that listens. “With those three things, our work becomes far more impactful.”

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