As the November 4 local government elections approach, residents from Toekomsrus and Mohlakeng have shared their hopes, frustrations and expectations for the next municipal council, with safety, service delivery, youth development and political accountability among their key concerns.

While some residents are looking forward to casting their ballots in the hope of bringing about change, others say frustration with political parties and a lack of engagement with young people have influenced their decision not to vote.

For Sihle Khoza from Toekomsrus, empty political promises and what he views as a lack of meaningful change have discouraged him from participating in the elections.

“I will not be voting. The politicians are full of empty promises. They don’t bring real change to communities on the ground. Young people are neglected, especially those dealing with substance abuse issues,” Khoza said.

He said he would like to see more community parks and creative spaces where young people can develop their talents, while calling for more support programmes for those battling addiction.

Meanwhile, Sesinyi Sala from Mohlakeng said he would be voting and remained hopeful that the elections would bring positive changes to communities.

“We criticise the municipality a lot as residents, but we also need to commend them for the changes they’re implementing in the communities,” he said.

Sala added that he hoped the incoming council would do more to address residents’ concerns, particularly crime and service delivery.

He said residents in Mohlakeng were afraid to go out at night because of burglaries, calling for a stronger police presence and safer communities.

He also highlighted recurring electricity interruptions and sewerage problems as issues requiring attention.

Three Mohlakeng residents, Nomvula Magudelela, Lerato Radebe and Yvonne Ntasi, also confirmed that they would be voting, while outlining the improvements they would like to see in their community.

The residents identified the need for streetlights in several streets, saying better lighting could help address safety concerns.

“We have a lot of crime, especially at night,” Radebe said.

Ntasi highlighted the need to maintain open velds in the area, saying criminals often hide in these spaces at night.

Magudelela called for tarred roads, particularly in Ext 5, saying road infrastructure remained an important community concern.

However, not all young residents feel motivated to participate in the electoral process.

Jodean Foster from Toekomsrus said she had decided not to vote because she believed her individual vote would not make a difference and felt political candidates were out of touch with Generation Z concerns.

Foster also cited frustration with political divisions, corruption and what she described as political toxicity.

She said a lack of voter education had contributed to her decision, explaining that she felt unprepared and lacked access to non-partisan guidance on candidates, registration requirements, deadlines and voting identification rules.

Foster further expressed concern that political campaigns appeared to focus more on older voters while leaving younger people feeling overlooked.

The residents’ views reflect differing attitudes towards the upcoming elections, with some seeing voting as an opportunity to influence local government while others remain disillusioned by what they perceive as a lack of meaningful change.

Their concerns nevertheless point to issues they want the next council to address, including safer neighbourhoods, reliable municipal services, improved infrastructure, youth development and greater engagement with communities.

As election day approaches, their experiences highlight the importance of understanding residents’ everyday struggles and the expectations they have of those seeking to represent them.