Ward 98 residents have voiced strong support for their councillor, Mickey van der Westhuizen, praising his hands-on approach and visible commitment to addressing ongoing service delivery challenges in the area.

Areas under Ward 98 include Ninapark, Clarina, Theresa Park, Amandasig, parts of Karen Park, Dorandia, Tileba, Hestea Park, Klerksoord, Winternest, Heatherdale, Heatherview and Eldorette.

Van der Westhuizen (31) has served the ward for the past eight months, focusing on restoring accountability, improving service delivery, and strengthening communication between residents and the metro.

Since taking office in August, he has prioritised stabilising basic services while working toward long-term infrastructure improvements.

One resident, Aidan Deyzel, described the councillor’s dedication as something rarely seen in local government.

“As a resident, I have never experienced the level of commitment he shows to the community. He consistently keeps residents informed about unresolved service delivery issues, often posting updates well after midnight.

“More importantly, he does not lead from a distance. He is regularly on the ground, personally visiting problem sites, inspecting infrastructure failures, and engaging directly with residents,” said Deyzel.

He added that what makes Van der Westhuizen’s efforts even more remarkable is his continued involvement, despite personal health challenges.

“I remember he was in hospital for a while, and he continued to advocate for the people of Ward 98.

“I mean, from his hospital bed, he was still involved in efforts to push for improved service delivery, including supporting a community petition demanding urgent municipal intervention,” he said.

According to Van der Westhuizen, the ward faced several challenges when he first took office, including deteriorating infrastructure, inconsistent service delivery, and slow response times from municipal departments.

His approach has been to actively escalate issues, conduct site inspections, and ensure departments are held accountable.

“The biggest challenges remain infrastructure maintenance, power outages, water leaks, deteriorating roads, illegal dumping, and overgrown public spaces.

“I work closely with residents to track service requests, monitor progress, and ensure that response times improve.”

He also raised concerns about the lack of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) support in Ward 98, noting that it limits the ward’s ability to maintain public spaces and address infrastructure issues effectively.

Despite these challenges, progress has been made.

Van der Westhuizen highlighted improvements, such as the repair of streetlights in Oribi Street and First Avenue, as well as ongoing plans for road resurfacing and stormwater drainage upgrades in areas including Klerksoord, Oribi Street, and 5th Avenue.

Another resident, Bethuel van Zyl of Ninapark, resonated the community’s appreciation for the councillor’s efforts.

“You know it’s not always easy for someone to take over an area that has major challenges and try by all means to fix it. Obviously, a complete turnover is not an overnight thing, hence community involvement is crucial,” Van Zyl said.

“He is always visible and accessible. You will find him at problem areas, speaking to residents and making sure issues are followed up. It gives us confidence that someone is actually fighting for our community,” she said.

Future projects include the planned installation of a traffic signal at the corner of Daan De Wet Nel Drive and Theron Street in Clarina to improve road safety. As well as the development of a new park in Klerksoord to provide a safe recreational space for families.

Van der Westhuizen emphasised the importance of community involvement in maintaining a functional ward.

He encouraged residents to report issues promptly, avoid illegal dumping, and participate in community initiatives.

“A functional ward requires partnership. When residents and the ward councillor work together, we achieve faster results and stronger accountability,” he said.

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