Ward 98’s Councillor Mickey van der Westhuizen says his first 12 months have been defined by tackling long-standing community issues, restoring communication with residents and laying the groundwork for further improvements across Pretoria North’s western suburbs.

While acknowledging that significant service delivery challenges remain, Van der Westhuizen believes the past year has demonstrated that visible leadership and constant engagement with residents can make a meaningful difference.

Among the achievements he is most proud of is addressing criminal activity around Station Square, where Home Affairs and the licensing offices are situated.

The area had long been plagued by individuals allegedly targeting residents through scams and theft.

“Together with the Tshwane Metro Police Department, we pushed to stop runners from scamming and stealing from the community.

“A fence has now been erected, and we are only waiting for the gate motor so that we can properly monitor the area and remove those who do not belong there,” he said.

The councillor also highlighted efforts to improve safety in Clarina, where repaired streetlights, increased police visibility, and security patrols have helped transform what was once regarded as a crime hotspot.

He said cable theft incidents, which had previously occurred almost monthly, had dropped dramatically, while Clarina and Winternest residents had experienced months without electricity failures linked to criminal activity.

Another major milestone, according to Van der Westhuizen, was the restoration of communication between the ward office and residents.

“Residents should be confident because my first year has shown that I do not disappear when things get difficult. I show up, I speak up, I communicate honestly, and I keep pushing for solutions.

“Not every problem has been solved, but residents now have leadership that is visible, accessible and unafraid to fight for better services. My first year laid the foundation; now the focus is on turning that foundation into even stronger results,” he said.

He explained that Ward 98 Area Connect groups were established to ensure residents receive frequent updates during service delivery interruptions.

“Even when the lights are off, my residents are never left in the dark regarding information about the issue,” he said.

Infrastructure improvements over the past year have included the rehabilitation of a former illegal dumping hotspot, the construction of a new park in Platinum Park, Klerksoord; restoration of the fountain at the intersection of Rachel de Beer and Heinrich roads; installation of working streetlights along First Avenue and Oribi Road and the rollout of chambers aimed at improving water pressure while reducing pipe bursts.

Long-time Clarina resident Annie Jacobs said she has noticed a significant improvement in communication over the past year.

“We don’t always get the news we want, but at least we know what is happening. The regular updates have made a huge difference, and you can see that the councillor is visible in the community,” she said.

Klerksoord resident James Pierre said reducing power interruptions should remain the ward’s top priority, but acknowledged recent progress.

“Electricity has definitely become more stable than before in our area. There is still work to be done, but it’s encouraging to see someone continuously following up on problems instead of leaving residents without answers,” he said.

Van der Westhuizen also said he identified vegetation as a major cause of repeated electricity interruptions affecting residents supplied by the BVS and BVN power lines, resulting in almost 150 trees being reported as needing trimming or removal.

Despite these successes, he admitted that working within municipal systems remains one of his greatest frustrations.

“I must say, getting feedback from the metro and getting issues resolved within the metro’s norms and standards timeframes has been extremely challenging. Unfortunately, this remains my biggest concern,” he said.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo previously mentioned that for all maintenance-related complaints, the responsible department requires specific information, such as the location, street names, and reference numbers.

“However, the metro has a weekly programme of attending to parks, cemeteries, community halls, libraries, road reserves, and public open spaces.

“Furthermore, the metro is currently resolving a backlog of approximately 14 000 potholes on its road network from the last six months. It would be appreciated if we could be furnished with specific service delivery incident concerns bearing [reference] numbers,” he said.

He said service delivery challenges in the municipality are also accelerated through the Re A Spana programme.

Looking ahead, Van der Westhuizen identified securing a stable electricity supply to Clarina and Klerksoord, implementing long-awaited traffic-calming measures in Clarina and restoring street lighting along Waterbok, Daan de Wet Nel, Willem Cruywagen, and Berg Roads as his top priorities.

He also continues to advocate for the relocation of the Jwagga informal settlement and the upgrading of electrical infrastructure serving the ward.

The councillor said collaboration with community stakeholders has been central to his approach.

He regularly participates in CPF meetings, Operation Shanela initiatives, community upliftment projects with AfriForum, and patrols alongside private security companies.

He encouraged residents to remain actively involved in holding him accountable.

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