With the 2026 local government elections approaching, Ward 81 residents can get to know the candidates vying to represent their community. Meet the candidates, learn more about their priorities and find out what they hope to achieve if elected as ward councillor.

All candidates were invited to submit responses to questions. The responses published below are included here. This article will be updated as further candidates submit their responses.

Ward 81 suburbs include:

Bramley (part), Bramley View, Corlett Gardens, Dunsevern, Gresswold, Kew, Linksfield (part), Lombardy East, Lombardy West, Lyndhurst, Rembrandt Park, Waverley, Sandringham, Marlboro.

Ward councillor 81 DA candidate Daniel Kalyan

In one sentence, who are you?
I’m Daniel Kalyan, a husband, father and proud Joburger who believes in being present, listening to people and doing everything I can to help get the basics working in the community I serve.

What are the biggest issues facing your ward currently?
Electricity is one of the biggest frustrations residents deal with. We have had repeated outages in different parts of the ward. We also deal with water leaks, potholes, roads that are not properly repaired after work has been done, illegal dumping and public spaces that need more attention. The illegal dumpsite between Lombardy East and Lombardy West is a good example. Another big frustration is communication.

What practical solutions would you prioritise should you be named councillor of your ward?
The first thing I would focus on is making sure residents can reach their councillor and know that the issues they report are actually being followed up. I also think we need to stop treating the same problem as a brand-new problem every time it happens.

What is one misconception about you or your party that you would like to clarify?
One misconception I would like to change is that politicians only show up when they want your vote. I believe a public representative should be visible and accessible all the time, especially when residents need help. There is also sometimes a view that the DA only cares about certain communities.

Should your party’s candidate be named mayor, what issue/s should they address first?
If Helen Zille becomes mayor, I think the first job is to get the basics working again. People in Johannesburg want reliable electricity and water. They want roads that are maintained, rubbish collected, public spaces looked after and a city that responds when something goes wrong. We also need to take illegal dumping, neglected public spaces and by-law enforcement seriously. People pay rates, taxes and service charges every month.

Also read: Ward 117, 71, 74, 73 and 81 ward representatives speak on working for the community

Ward councillor 81 independent candidate Theo Lengwati

In one sentence, who are you?
My name is Theo Lengwati, a family man, a born leader and a changemaker who is committed to serving my community and driving meaningful change.

What are the biggest issues facing your ward currently?
We are facing deteriorating municipal infrastructure across entities such as City Power, JRA and Johannesburg Water, which has contributed to repeated service delivery failures and placed an enormous burden on the ward councillor.

What practical solutions would you prioritise should you be named councillor of your ward?
My priority would be to take the politics out of service delivery and put residents first. I would be consistently on the ground, working with municipal departments to address both operational and capital infrastructure challenges, while building strong partnerships with communities and establishing teams on the ground that can identify problems, follow up on them and ensure that residents receive regular feedback. As an independent candidate, I would be directly accountable to the residents who elected me, without a party structure standing between the community and its councillor.

What is one misconception about you or your party that you would clarify?
The biggest misconception is that an independent candidate is powerless in council. That is simply not true. Once elected, every councillor has a mandate to represent their constituents and participate in the decisions of council. An independent councillor can also become highly influential in a coalition environment by negotiating around issues and supporting decisions that advance the interests of their community.

Should your party’s candidate be named mayor, in your opinion, what issue/s should they address first?
If, through coalition agreements, I were given the opportunity to serve as mayor, my first priority would be to strengthen accountability and root out corruption within the city’s systems, municipal entities and supply chain, procurement and tender processes. Those resources could then be redirected towards the city’s most pressing challenges, including infrastructure, basic service delivery and effective by-law enforcement.

Ward 81 Economic Freedom Fighters councillor candidate Mthuthuzeli Shibambo

In one sentence, who are you?
My name is Mthuthuzeli ‘BlackJesus’ Shibambo, born on 25 June 1983, a lifelong community member and EFF Ward 81 councillor candidate who believes leadership must be about listening to residents, solving problems and delivering equality and dignity to everyone.

What are the biggest issues facing your ward currently?
Ward 81 faces serious challenges, including electricity and water shortages; informal settlements without proper electrification, water pipes and stormwater drainage cables; theft; unreliable meter boxes; unemployment among young people; and inadequate community facilities. The Jukskei River needs proper cleaning and ongoing maintenance. Our parks also need proper children’s equipment and outdoor gym equipment. Safety around the bridge between River Park and Lombardy East is another concern, and appropriate high gates and security measures are needed.

What practical solutions would you prioritise should you be named councillor?
My priority would be accountable service delivery. I would engage City Power, Housing, JRA and every relevant stakeholder and hold them accountable for doing their work. I would fight for electrification, water infrastructure and stormwater systems in informal settlements, maintenance of the Jukskei and parks, and improved safety. I would also push for a youth community centre where young people can learn practical skills such as plumbing, carpentry, construction and other trades. Most importantly, residents must tell me their problems so I can take them forward and fight for solutions.

What is one misconception about you or your party that you would clarify?
People believe that the EFF wants to chase white people out of South Africa. That is not my understanding of our position. We want equality, justice and equal opportunities. We are all human beings, and nobody should be discriminated against because of their skin colour.

Should your party’s candidate be named mayor, what should they address first?
The mayor should prioritise basic service delivery, infrastructure, electricity, water, housing, safety and employment, while making municipal departments accountable to the communities they serve.

Also read: Ward 81 councillor sends her condolences to the family of Moss Selolo

Other candidates are encouraged to email the editor, Ashtyn Mackenzie, at ashtynm@caxton.co.za.