WARD 98 ELECTION BATTLE SET TO PUT SERVICE DELIVERY UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

The battle for Ward 98 in the Akasia region is beginning to take shape as South Africans prepare to go to the polls for the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.

Among the candidates expected to contest the ward are independent candidate Thabo Moroane, Democratic Alliance (DA) candidate Councillor Mickey van der Westhuizen and ActionSA candidate Malebo Makgoka, alongside candidates representing other political parties, including Neo Nkosi of the African National Congress (ANC).

Unlike the party-backed candidates, Moroane enters the race without a political party behind his name, making the contest particularly interesting in a ward where residents will ultimately have to decide whether party structures or an independent voice best represents their interests.

The Electoral Commission has confirmed 4 November 2026 as the date for the local government elections, with more than 140 000 candidates nationally nominated for 10 526 council seats.

But while political campaigning is likely to intensify in the coming weeks, the real test for Ward 98 candidates will be much closer to home: SERVICE DELIVERY.

Ward 98 includes a wide range of communities, including Ninapark, Clarina, Theresa Park, Amandasig, parts of Karen Park, Dorandia, Tileba, Hestea Park, Klerksoord, Winternest, Heatherdale, Heatherview and Eldorette.

Residents have faced a number of municipal challenges, including water leaks, electricity interruptions, ageing infrastructure, illegal dumping, roads and stormwater problems.

When van der Westhuizen was elected in a July 2025 by-election, the IEC recorded a decisive DA victory, with the party receiving 72.77% of the vote. The ANC received 10.28%, FF+ 8.56%, EFF 4.74% and an independent candidate received 3.59%. Voter turnout was only 16.44%.

That result gives the DA incumbent an obvious electoral advantage, but it also presents a challenge: residents will judge whether promises made during the by-election have translated into tangible improvements.

Van der Westhuizen has identified electricity reliability, damaged cables, streetlights, roads, stormwater systems, community safety and illegal dumping among his priorities. He has also spoken about ageing asbestos water pipes in parts of the ward and the frequent water leaks associated with them.

There have also been visible efforts around illegal dumping. A long-standing dumping site in Ward 98 was targeted for rehabilitation, with local authorities and community members involved in restoring the area and installing anti-dumping signage.

For Moroane and Makgoka, therefore, the challenge will be to convince voters that a different approach can deliver better results.

The independent candidate’s campaign is likely to attract residents who want to judge candidates primarily on local issues rather than national party politics. But independence alone does not guarantee success. An independent councillor would still have to work within the structures, budgets and administrative systems of the City of Tshwane.

The same scrutiny applies to the party candidates. A councillor can raise problems, lobby municipal departments, participate in council processes and hold officials accountable, but many municipal services depend on decisions, budgets and implementation beyond a councillor’s sole control.

For Ward 98 voters, the coming campaign could therefore become less about political slogans and more about measurable commitments: How many water leaks have been fixed? Are electricity interruptions declining? Are roads being maintained? Are illegal dumping sites being dealt with? Are streetlights working? And are residents receiving timely responses when they report problems?

With the election now firmly on the calendar, Ward 98 is set for a contest in which the strongest candidate may ultimately be the one who can convince residents not simply that they deserve better, but that they have a credible plan for delivering it.

Are you convinced by all the candidates?