Residents’ associations (RA) in wards 102 and 104 in Randburg had the opportunity to get to know Gauteng mayoral candidate Helen Zille at a question-and-answer meeting held at the Swiss Hotel School in Ferndale.

Representatives asked her any and all kinds of questions, from her personal life and previous experiences, including her failures, to how she is going to turn things around if she gets elected to office. Like many suburbs throughout the city, both wards face concerning challenges, such as potholes on every road, constant water and power outages, unstable infrastructure, and more.

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The meeting provided an opportunity for residents to raise concerns directly with the Gauteng mayoral candidate. Key issues discussed included deteriorating roads, hijacked buildings, crime prevention, and concerns around people not turning out to vote in elections. Residents questioned how city leadership intends to improve accountability and ensure that rates and taxes collected from communities are translated into visible service delivery.

Zille acknowledged the frustrations and sufferings of residents, and stressed the importance of restoring confidence in local government through improved management, infrastructure investment, and stronger partnerships with communities.

She promised that if she makes office, her priority and focus will be stabilisation of water and electricity, road repairs, professional services, and rebuilding confidence in the future of Johannesburg.

The chairperson of the Ferndale Ridge Residents Group, Pierre van Wyk, said that Zille’s job interview with wards 102 and 104 RA members was certainly a great experience to attend. He added that Zille demonstrated her thorough knowledge and lived experiences, even when being thrown the tougher questions on various topics. “Her knowledge of the current situation in Johannesburg shows how in-depth she has gone to see what issues are there.

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“She has the drive and determination to take on the job and to serve the residents of Johannesburg. We want to benefit from improved service delivery, infrastructure repairs, and maintenance right through to a municipality that actually engages with residents and resolves their issues speedily.”

Ward 102 councillor Bea Campbell-Cloete said the meeting with the RAs was twofold. The first reason was to interact with the RAs face-to-face, as they usually interact over the phone or via WhatsApp. “This was an opportunity for them to meet one another, to share ideas and frustrations about what works and what does not work. I believe it was a great success. It gave the chance for the associations to raise pertinent questions and get answers.”

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