With the 2026 local government elections approaching, Ward 101 residents can get to know the candidates vying to represent their community. Meet the candidates, learn more about their priorities and find out what they hope to achieve if elected as ward councillor.

All candidates were invited to submit responses to questions. The responses published below are included here. This article will be updated as further candidates submit their responses.

The areas include North Riding, Noordhang, Northworld, Olivedale, Hoogland, Sharonlea, Hunters Hill A.H., Sonneglans and surrounding areas (including references to Cosmo City and Zandspruit in candidate submissions).

Olwethu Sivuyile “Lolo” Mhaga, a Rise Mzansi candidate for Ward 101

In one sentence, who are you?
I’m Olwethu Sivuyile “Lolo” Mhaga, a 32-year-old lawyer working in the Office of the Gauteng MEC for economic development and agriculture and rural development, Rise Mzansi’s national chair, and I’m running in Ward 101 because this is my home and I want to help fix the city I live in.

What are the biggest issues facing your ward currently?
Ward 101 is living through the consequences of deteriorating basic infrastructure: repeated water and electricity outages, leaks, ageing infrastructure, cable theft, illegal dumping and crime. Kya Sand faces some of these pressures most severely. These are not simply inconveniences; they affect people’s safety, businesses, property and quality of life.

What practical solutions would you prioritise should you be named councillor of your ward?
Residents need more than a councillor who simply forwards reference numbers. I would be relentless about day-to-day failures, but equally focused on preventing the next one. The city has budgeted significant funding for electricity infrastructure work in North Riding Ext 30. My job would be to push for clear timelines, public progress updates and accountability for delivery.
On crime, I would bring SAPS, JMPD, CPFs, private security and residents around one table to map hotspots, understand the resources available and co-ordinate them far more effectively.

What is one misconception about you or your party that you would clarify?
The misconception is that a vote for a so-called ‘small party’ is wasted. A councillor does not need hundreds of seats in council to answer a resident, interrogate a budget, demand accountability or fight for their ward. I would rather be judged on whether I am effective and ethical than simply on the size of the logo next to my name.

Should your party’s candidate be named mayor, what issue should they address first?
I believe Lukhona Mnguni should be mayor, and Johannesburg’s ageing and failing infrastructure should be among his first priorities. He has proposed an infrastructure fund with shared ownership with residents and capital. The city cannot keep repairing the same failures indefinitely. We need to mobilise public and private investment at a scale capable of renewing infrastructure, rather than continuing with patchwork repairs.

Ennie Makhafola, an EFF candidate for Ward 101

In one sentence, who are you?
I am councillor Ennie Makhafola, the EFF MMC for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg and the EFF councillor candidate for Ward 101, a community activist committed to restoring dignity and service delivery to our people.

What are the biggest issues facing your ward currently?
Ward 101, which covers Cosmo City, Zandspruit and surrounding areas, faces a service delivery crisis caused by the DA-led coalition – inconsistent water and electricity supply, uncollected refuse, pothole-ridden roads, high youth unemployment, crime, lack of formal housing, and limited access to clinics and social services for the poor and persons with disabilities.

What practical solutions would you prioritise should you be named councillor of your ward?
I will prioritise what the EFF manifesto promises: insourcing of all municipal workers including security and cleaners, immediate fixing of water, lights and sanitation, regular waste collection, paving of roads and installation of high-mast lights to fight crime, formalisation of informal settlements and provision of title deeds, bringing mobile clinics and sanitary towel distribution to schools, and establishing a ward SMME hub to support youth and women-owned businesses with access to city procurement.

What is one misconception about you or your party that you would clarify?
The misconception is that the EFF is disruptive and has no plan to govern – the truth is we are the only party with a practical, pro-poor plan to run this city cleanly, insource workers, stop tender corruption, and put land and jobs at the centre of development.

Should your party’s candidate be named mayor, what issue should they address first?
The EFF mayor must first restore basic service delivery, implement 100% insourcing, declare war on tender corruption and potholes, roll out free basic services and clean water to townships and informal settlements, and deliver serviced stands and quality clinics like Naledi Clinic to all neglected communities of Johannesburg.

Other candidates are encouraged to email the editor, Aimee McGill, at Aimeed@caxton.co.za.