On a voting day in Ekurhuleni's Ward 72, the Bakerton Community Hall is abuzz with activity as rival political parties campaign underneath their brightly coloured tents. However, in a unique move, the local Community Police Forum (CPF) has also set up its own tent to engage with residents and hold the eventual victor accountable. The area has been under Democratic Alliance control for the last 10 years, a period marked by significant service delivery failures.
The ANC attributes these failures to the DA's governance, with ANC's Yaseen Hajat stating that service delivery has dropped by 60% during the DA's tenure. Hajat claims that local ANC leaders faced deliberate blocks from the DA when trying to address infrastructure issues such as potholes and electricity outages. This has led to widespread disillusionment among residents, who express frustration with the lack of communication and service delivery from their elected officials.
Residents like ActionSA member Andrew Lekoatanke voice their discontent, stating that the community has been abandoned by its elected officials. Lekoatanke notes that he has never met the ward's councillor since 2022 and receives no communication during load shedding or water outages. He describes the councillor as "invisible." This sentiment is echoed by many residents who feel that their concerns are being ignored.
On the other hand, supporters of the DA, such as resident Nonwinile Lumayi, paint a vastly different picture of the ward's trajectory. Lumayi credits the DA with fixing local roads, restoring streetlights, and reducing crime. She praises the party's inclusivity and claims that it operates without the corruption she associates with the ANC. However, she also acknowledges that challenges persist, particularly in RDP homes that still lack basic services like toilets, bathrooms, and electricity.
Amidst the partisan bickering, the Bakerton CPF has emerged as a stabilising force for local governance. CPF member Sadah Pachidagas explains that the forum has deliberately distanced itself from politics, focusing instead on building partnerships with whoever wins and holding them accountable. This approach aims to ensure that service delivery is prioritised and that residents are not forgotten once the voting tents are packed away.
To enforce this accountability, Bakerton CPF ward committee members now sit on the Ekurhuleni Ward 72 forums alongside municipal stakeholders. Pachidagas acknowledges that service delivery has not been optimal but maintains that their direct intervention has helped keep residents on the radar of municipal authorities. This collaborative approach seeks to bridge the gap between residents and their elected officials.
As the community moves forward, the CPF's role in promoting accountability and service delivery will be crucial. With residents continuing to voice their concerns and demands for better governance, the CPF's efforts to build partnerships and ensure service delivery will be closely watched. The situation in Ward 72 serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing local governance in South Africa.
Key points
- The Community Police Forum in Ekurhuleni's Ward 72 is taking a proactive role in holding the eventual victor accountable for service delivery.
- Residents of Ward 72 express deep frustration with the lack of communication and service delivery from their elected officials.
- The area has been under Democratic Alliance control for the last 10 years, a period marked by significant service delivery failures.
