NEO NKOSI: LIKE IT OR NOT, I’M THE NEXT WARD 98 COUNCILLOR!
ANC candidate sets sights on councillorship in hotly contested race to power.
By Akasia Express News Reporter
As the race for Ward 98 in Akasia intensifies ahead of South Africa’s 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, African National Congress (ANC) candidate Neo Nkosi is stepping into the political spotlight with a confident declaration.
The cucumber-cool politician believes the ward is within reach and says she is ready to take on the responsibility of leadership.
For Nkosi, the candidacy represents more than an opportunity to occupy a council seat, as she describes it as a privilege to be chosen to lead a community with a rich history, established neighbourhoods and residents who deserve reliable municipal services, safer streets and renewed opportunities.
Her ambition is to see Akasia reclaim the standing she believes it once enjoyed, when the area was regarded as a desirable place to live, and was the envy of everyone.
According to the queen of Amandasig, the ward’s future must be built around functioning infrastructure, community safety, investment, education and opportunities for young people who find themselves loitering around.
“I know I will be the councillor by 4 November 2026,” she vowed without mincing words.
“I wouldn’t have accepted had I known that I cannot do the job.”
It is a bold statement in a contest that will test not only the strength of political parties but also the ability of individual candidates to convince residents that they understand the problems affecting their neighbourhoods and have credible plans to address them.
A WARD THAT DEMANDS MORE THAN PROMISES!
Ward 98 covers a diverse collection of communities, including Ninapark, Clarina, Theresapark, Amandasig, Dorandia, Tileba, Klerksoord, Winternest, Heatherdale, Heatherview and Eldorette, among other areas.
The ward’s political contest is unfolding against a backdrop of concerns about water leaks, electricity interruptions, ageing infrastructure, illegal dumping, road maintenance and stormwater management, crime, healthcare and drugs.
These are practical issues that affect residents’ daily lives and will inevitably shape their assessment of candidates.
Nkosi acknowledges that residents want answers and dependable communication from their elected representatives.
The believe is that there is a need to improve public understanding of how municipal service delivery works, particularly the distinction between the responsibilities of a ward councillor and those of the City of Tshwane.
Her position is that residents should not have to struggle to find assistance when municipal problems arise.
“I am a resident of this ward, and I would also like to see it thrive,” she says.
FIVE PRIORITIES, ONE CENTRAL CHALLENGE: DELIVERY
Nkosi has identified five broad priorities that she wants to pursue: continuity in service delivery, reliable community representation, investment and education, crime prevention, and employment and healthcare.
Her challenge will be translating these ambitions into practical programmes, measurable objectives and sustained engagement with residents.
1. Continuity and a better understanding of service delivery
Nkosi believes continuity matters in municipal governance and argues that communities need to understand the processes through which service-delivery problems are reported, escalated and resolved.
However, continuity, in her view, must go hand in hand with responsiveness. Residents want to know that their concerns have been recorded, that the appropriate municipal officials have been contacted and that progress will be communicated.
For Ward 98, this means confronting the everyday problems that often determine whether residents feel heard – leaking pipes, damaged roads, unreliable electricity, broken streetlights and waste-management challenges.
A councillor cannot personally perform every municipal function, but the office carries an important responsibility to represent residents, facilitate communication and hold the relevant structures accountable.
Nkosi says she is prepared to take on that responsibility.
2. Reliable leadership and accessible representation
For Nkosi, reliability means being available to the community and ensuring that residents have a representative who understands their concerns.
She argues that people should be able to approach their ward councillor for assistance without feeling that their problems are being ignored.
Her approach places an emphasis on the relationship between the councillor and the people being represented. That relationship, however, will ultimately be measured by accessibility, consistent communication and evidence that residents’ concerns are receiving attention.
As a candidate who is entering the contest for a ward councillor leadership role, Nkosi will need to establish how she intends to organise her engagements with residents and ensure that complaints are followed through.
Her message is that accepting the nomination means accepting the responsibility that comes with it.
3. Attracting investment and opening doors through education
Nkosi wants to see greater private-sector participation in the development of Ward 98, particularly through partnerships that can create opportunities for young people.
She believes companies operating in and around the area could contribute more to community development through education support, bursaries and other initiatives that help young people access opportunities.
“Education is first on my list of priorities. Our youth must be educated. Our youth deserves education,” she says.
Her vision is to build relationships with corporate partners whose programmes can complement government initiatives and respond to the needs of local families.
Such partnerships could potentially support learners who face financial barriers, while creating pathways towards further education and skills development.
The next step would be to identify prospective partners, establish clear commitments and communicate how learners would qualify for assistance. This would give residents a clearer picture of how the proposed initiatives could be implemented.
For Nkosi, investing in young people is part of building a stronger community rather than simply responding to immediate problems.
4. Fighting crime, drugs and substance abuse
Community safety is another priority close to Nkosi’s heart.
As a passionate participant in community safety efforts, including being a member of the local Community Policing Forum (CPF), she says she is concerned about the availability of drugs and the impact of substance abuse on young people and families.
She wants stronger collaboration between residents, the police and relevant community structures to address crime and the social problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse.
“It saddens me to see how easy it is to get drugs in this ward. This is not right,” she says.
“We all have kids, and it upsets the stomach seeing how good, educated children are turned into criminals because of drugs.”
Nkosi believes young people also need constructive activities and opportunities that can help them avoid the destructive consequences of substance abuse.
She points to the limited use of sports and recreational facilities in parts of the ward, identifying the Dolfyn Street recreational sports park as one of the spaces used by young people while other areas are not being fully utilised for social activities.
Her proposed direction is to encourage greater sports participation and community programmes while working with the police and other stakeholders to address crime.
The effectiveness of this approach would depend on sustained cooperation, access to facilities, organised activities and practical interventions that respond to local conditions.
5. Jobs, healthcare and economic opportunity
Unemployment is another issue Nkosi wants to confront, as she believes more attention must be given to ensuring that residents, particularly young people, can access employment opportunities in and around Akasia.
She has raised concerns about residents living close to major shopping centres while still struggling to secure work, arguing that local job seekers need better access to recruitment opportunities.
Her proposal is to engage businesses and encourage more inclusive recruitment practices that give residents a fair opportunity to compete for available positions.
This would require ongoing engagement with employers, access to information about vacancies and skills requirements, and initiatives that help job seekers prepare for the labour market.
Nkosi also wants healthcare services brought closer to communities while arguing that the healthcare facilities available in the area face pressure from a large population, including people travelling from neighbouring townships. She believes collaboration with the relevant authorities is necessary to explore ways of improving access to healthcare.
Beyond municipal services, Nkosi identifies herself as a passionate advocate against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), a major social challenge in South Africa.
Her interest in the issue reflects a broader concern about the safety and dignity of people within communities.
THE POLITICAL TEST AHEAD
Nkosi enters an increasingly competitive Ward 98 contest, where she will face candidates from other political formations, including incumbent Democratic Alliance councillor Mickey van der Westhuizen, independent candidate Thabo Moroane and ActionSA candidate Malebo Makgoka, alongside other party representatives.
The political environment presents a significant challenge for the ANC. In the July 2025 Ward 98 by-election, the DA received 72.77% of the vote, while the ANC received 10.28%. The result provides important historical context, although it does not determine what residents will decide in November 2026.
But her confidence is clear – the outcome remains in the hands of voters.
‘I AM READY TO LEAD’
For Nkosi, the decision to accept the ANC nomination was not one she took lightly. She says she is already involved in programmes that she intends to continue and does not regard public leadership as a responsibility that can simply be abandoned when challenges arise.
“I know I will be the councillor by 4 November 2026,” she reiterates while inviting Akasia Express to an agricultural event on 17 October at the Amandasig Park.
As Ward 98 approaches election day, residents will have the opportunity to consider Nkosi’s proposals alongside those of her competitors and decide which candidate best reflects their priorities.