Ward councillors in the east of Pretoria are hard at work to improve service delivery, infrastructure, residents’ lives and encourage community engagement.

They are elected public representatives serving as the primary link between a specific local community and the municipality.

They advocate for residents’ needs, monitor service delivery, facilitate public participation, and ensure accountability within local government, often chairing ward committees to address local issues.

Rekord spoke to some of the councillors, who confirm that their jobs are very demanding. It requires passion and patience working with people and requires emotional intelligence.

The ward councillors also shared their motivations, achievements, and plans for their wards.

Malcolm de Klerk, in his late thirties, who is the ward councillor for Ward 101, covering Agricultural Holding areas, plots, farms and suburbs, has been representing the ward since November 2021.

Reflecting on his motivation for entering public service, he said, “I’m a patriot, and serving my country is something important to me.”

De Klerk said that in his early days in office, he noted that residents struggled to access information.

“People were finding information difficult until I created area-by-area communication systems and methods which eased the burden and now residents are informed on all matters affecting them,” he explained.

De Klerk highlighted uninterrupted basic services as the most pressing challenge.

“I raise matters through council processes and letters to top management to ensure residents’ needs are met,” De Klerk said.

He said projects under his leadership include road upgrades in Graham Road linked to the construction of a new university.

Looking back, he is most proud of the ward’s crime statistics, which show Ward 101 as one of the safest wards in South Africa.

“Residents can reach me directly via WhatsApp, providing their name, address, issue type, and reference number for follow-up.”

De Klerk said his favourite social spots are Rosemary Hill, Hazeldean Trails and Blos Café.

“These spots are amazing spots among dozens of other spots in the ward. Residents can feel free to check them out,” he said.

Ward 44, which includes areas such as Faerie Glen and parts of Garsfontein, is led by elected councillor Samantha de la Rey.

De la Rey (36) has represented Ward 44 since a by-election in July 2025.

She explained her motivation to run for ward councillor was that she realised that complaining from the sidelines wouldn’t bring about real change.

“I wanted to be part of the solution, to advocate for residents, hold the administration accountable, and ensure that people’s voices are not just heard, but acted upon.”

De la Rey described her ward as generally in good condition when she took office, but some systemic service delivery issues remained.

Her main priorities include addressing outstanding service issues, restoring roads, and strengthening by-law enforcement.

“Ward 44 has challenges with vagrants taking over the green belt and putting up illegal structures. I am working closely with TMPD to remove all new structures within the legal timeframe,” she said.

She also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the successful switchover to the new Wapadrand substation, stabilising the electricity supply.

The Koedoeberg secondary substation, which was previously vandalised, has been refurbished.
Traffic calming measures were also installed on Cliffendale Road and Selikats Causeway.

De la Rey said she was most proud of getting long-standing issues such as potholes, water leaks, and tree trimming under control, as well as the smooth switchover to the Wapadrand substation.

Residents can contact her via on 084 529 6541 or SamanthaDLR@tshwane.gov.za.

Reporting platforms for issues include the Tshwane Jotform Portal (app.jotform.com/251533327578563), Power Failure Reporting (powerfailure.tshwane.gov.za/Tshwanesms/NewCall), and eTshwane Portal (www.e-tshwane.co.za/eTshwane/lodge-query).

She said for urgent matters, such as major water bursts or power outages, residents are encouraged to join Ward 44 WhatsApp groups for real-time updates.

“My favourite spot in the ward is The Daily Coffee Shop at Glen Village. They have the best coffee with condensed milk and French toast.”

Henning Viljoen has served Ward 91 for four years.

Motivated by a passion for South African politics and sustainable local solutions, he explained that was the push for him to step into the role of ward councillor.

“I stepped into public service to contribute to long-term improvements at the local government level.”

He described challenges in his ward, including expanding informal settlements, collapsed peri-urban road infrastructure, and persistent cable theft. Residents also face electricity outages, which have generally improved during his tenure.

Viljoen said current projects include the construction of a water reservoir in Grootfontein and the replacement of underground cables with overhead power lines to reduce theft. Concrete plans to address pollution at Rietvlei Dam were developed in collaboration with the community and the Tshwane metro to mitigate social and environmental health impacts.

His proudest achievements include the installation of overhead cables and elevating the Rietvlei Dam pollution issue to the national level.

He said residents can contact him through WhatsApp on 072 111 3996, Telegram, or Facebook.

“For urgent issues, providing a reference number ensures swift escalation to the regional depot, followed by regular progress updates via social media groups.”

His favourite spot is the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, which is a beautiful and underappreciated gem in the ward for him.

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