by: Lushika Moolo – Concerned Community Forum (CCF)
The election race has begun. The clock is ticking. Political parties are positioning themselves; candidates are appearing, photographs are being taken and promises are once again flowing.
But somewhere in the race for Ward 61, these political parties seem to have forgotten the most important component of Laudium:
OUR RESIDENTS. WARD 61 IS CURRENTLY, AND SADLY, ON A VENTILATOR. WARD 61 NEEDS ACTION – NOT EXCUSES.
Our infrastructure is deteriorating, our roads and streetlights are failing, and criminals continues to terrorise our community.
So, before anyone comes asking for our votes, residents should perhaps ask one very simple question: DO THEY REALLY CARE? ANC, DA and ACTIONSA – LISTEN UP:
The CCF has made every effort humanly possible to engage with all three political parties and invite them to meet with ALL the residents of Ward 61.
The idea was simple: a properly structured, neutral public debate giving every political party the same platform to present its manifesto, explain its plan for Ward 61 and answer directly to the residents whose votes it wants.
We repeatedly invited the parties and provided a structured manifesto template so residents could compare their promises, judge their plans and make an informed decision at the ballot box.
No political favour. No political agenda. Just transparency, accountability and an informed electorate.
NOT ONE OF THE BIG THREE RESPONDED AND NO PARTY WILL GET A FREE PASS.
Since they did not come to the residents, perhaps it is time for the residents to put the questions to them publicly.
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) — YOU CURRENTLY REPRESENT THIS WARD, SO ANSWER TO THE RESIDENTS.
Cllr Naeem Patel regularly posts photographs of himself with Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise at various locations around Laudium, followed by lengthy posts about what the ANC intends bringing to our ward. Residents have heard the promises. NOW WE WANT ANSWERS.
- DEMARCATION – WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU SUPPORT?
Provide residents with the Ward 61 demarcation map that went through the Council process on 4 February 2026 and which you signed off on and explain exactly what you supported.
Confirm whether the 1,000 Mooiplaas voters allocated to Ward 61 will actually vote in Ward 61 and explain the repeated reference to “warm bodies” being needed to balance ward numbers. Residents have a right to know who
has been placed in this ward, why, what the service-delivery implications are and, if there is an electoral advantage, who ultimately benefits.
- MUNICIPAL MEETINGS HAVE BECOME PLATFORMS FOR POLITICAL ATTACKS?
Quarterly feedback meetings are meant to give residents direct access to municipal officials, service-delivery updates and an opportunity to raise legitimate concerns.
Why, then, are these platforms being used for political point-scoring, personal attacks and to discredit residents who question or challenge? These meetings should focus on water, electricity, roads, streetlights, safety, infrastructure and service delivery – not personalities or attempts to silence criticism. Municipal accountability is not political
campaigning, and holding public representatives accountable should never make a resident a political target.
- WHY WAS EXTENSION 3 NOT AT THE CENTRE OF THE POLICE MINISTER’S VISIT?
Extension 3 is facing a serious crime crisis. Yet when the Acting Minister of Police visited Laudium, why was he not taken there? Why were the residents living with the crime – and the victims themselves – not placed at the centre of an engagement with the country’s policing leadership?
- WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT OF THAT VISIT? WHERE IS DEPUTY MAYOR EUGENE MODISE? COME AND ADDRESS THE PEOPLE!
We see the photographs. But where is the accountability? Why has Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise not stood before the broader Ward 61 community, in our community centre, and answered residents directly about our failing infrastructure?
If residents are expected to believe that things are going to change, then come before them, answer the difficult questions and explain how.
DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE(DA) – WARD 61 DOES NOT BEGIN AND END IN WHITEBLOCKS.
The DA wants the votes of Ward 61 – Then the DA must answer to ALL OF WARD 61.
WHY DOES YOUR VISIBILITY APPEAR TO BE CONCENTRATED IN WHITEBLOCKS?
The DA knows very well that Ward 61 extends far beyond Whiteblocks, and we are extremely appreciative that our Whiteblocks residents are being prioritised. BUT what about the rest of Laudium? Where is the same political
visibility and urgency for all the areas? If the ship is sinking…what is the point of saving a room… Ward 61 cannot be treated as separate pockets of political convenience.
WHERE IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE WHOLE OF WARD 61? What is the DA’s actual rescue plan for this ward? Not Tshwane generally.
Not a national manifesto. WE WANT ANSWERS FOR WARD 61. WHERE IS YOUR MAYORAL CANDIDATE?
The CCF has made requests for broader engagement. Why has the DA’s aspiring mayoral leadership not stood before the entire Ward 61 community and answered residents’ questions?
If you want residents to support your candidate to lead this City, surely those residents are entitled to meet that candidate and ask:
WHAT EXACTLY WILL YOU DO FOR WARD 61
The DA has councillors and representatives with access to Council structures, committees and municipal processes.
So, tell residents:
- What Ward 61 infrastructure matters have you formally escalated?
- What questions, motions or interventions have you initiated?
- What outcomes have you achieved?
- Where interventions failed, why did they fail?
- Opposition cannot simply mean telling residents what somebody else has done wrong.
SHOW US WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, SHOW US WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO. WILL YOU REPRESENT EVERY
RESIDENT EQUALLY? Residents should never feel that political attention depends on which part of the ward they live in or where a political party believes its strongest voter base exists.
Give Ward 61 a commitment – Will the DA represent every community within Ward 61 with the same visibility, urgency and determination? Because if you want to represent Ward 61, you must first be willing to represent ALL OF WARD 61.
ACTIONSA (ACSA) – YOU LEAD TSHWANE. BUT WHERE IS THE ACTION IN WARD 61?
ActionSA cannot campaign in Ward 61 as though it has no influence over what is happening in the City. The current Executive Mayor is from ActionSA.
That gives residents every right to ask:
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY YOU ALREADY HAVE? MAYOR — WHERE ARE YOU
Our community’s infrastructure is deteriorating.
Our residents know it.
Our civic organisations know it.
And the City’s leadership knows it.
So why has the Executive Mayor not stood before the broader Ward 61 community in an open public meeting and addressed these problems directly?
We see photographs from social and selected engagements. But Ward 61 needs more than photographs. WE NEED THE MAYOR TO ANSWER TO THE COMMUNITY. IF ACTIONSA LEADS THE CITY, WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR WARD 61?
SHOW US THE RESULTS
- What infrastructure interventions have been prioritised?
- What budgets have been directed towards our problems?
- What projects have been accelerated?
- What measurable improvements should residents be able to see?
WHERE ARE YOUR SENIOR PARTY LEADERS?
The CCF has made numerous attempts to engage. Where are ActionSA’s senior representatives? Why has there not been a meaningful, broad community engagement where your leadership address our residents, listens to what is happening on the ground and answers the difficult questions?
If you want to win Ward 61: COME TO WARD 61. Not simply for a photograph. Come for accountability.
WHAT IS ACTIONSA’S WARD 61 RESCUE PLAN? Residents should not have to piece together your plans from political posts. PUBLISH THE PLAN.
WHY SHOULD WARD 61 GIVE ACTIONSA ITS VOTE? This is perhaps the most important question. ActionSA currently occupies the highest political office in the City. So before asking Ward 61 residents to place further confidence in the party, tell us:
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY YOU ALREADY HAVE?
THREE PARTIES. ONE WARD. ONE STANDARD OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
ANC – you currently hold the Ward 61 councillor position.
Democratic Alliance – you want residents to believe you can govern better.
ActionSA – your party currently holds the office of Executive Mayor.
Different political positions. SAME ACCOUNTABILITY
We ask again: WHAT IS YOUR PLAN – please don’t tell residents what is wrong with the “other party”
TELL US WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.
Bring your mayoral candidates.
Bring your Ward 61 candidates.
Bring your manifestos.
Sit on the same platform.
Face the same residents.
Answer the same difficult questions.
Because this election should not be decided by:
WHO HAS THE MOST POSTERS – ON THE VERY SAME NON-FUNCTIONAL STREETLIGHTS THAT WE REPORT EVERY OTHER DAY
It should be decided by WHO PUTS RESIDENTS FIRST.
WHO SHOWS UP. WHO LISTENS AND
WHO ANSWERS. WHO HAS A REAL
PLAN AND WHO CAN DELIVER.
Our residents are not numbers on a voters’ roll. We are not “warm bodies” nor are we political props.
We are not a convenient backdrop for photographs.
And we are certainly not votes waiting to be collected.
Before anyone talks about winning the hearts of Ward 61 residents, perhaps they should first demonstrate that they are prepared to listen to them, answer to them and fight for them.
NO FAVOURITES. NO FREE PASSES. NO EXCUSES.
WARD 61 DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
WARD 61 NEEDS A RESCUE PLAN.
Residents deserve to hear that plan from ALL THREE.
IF YOU CANNOT COME TO THE “PARTY”….STEP ASIDE FOR THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK….
