“Will my ward candidate be accessible, accountable and represent my ward well on the council of our local municipality? Will he or she be efficient enough to make a difference? Will his or her input and influence speed up service delivery?” might be some of the questions running through the voter’s mind.

One of the three ballot papers that every voter will receive on May 18, will give the voter the opportunity to vote for a ward councillor. The other two ballots are for a political party’s proportional representation (PR) on the local council and on the district council.

The seven candidates for ward 20 are Ms Gladys Sophie Mahwayi of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Mr Sello Vincent Mhladisa of the African National Congress (ANC), Mr Thapelo Justice Rapao of the Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO), Mr Geoffrey Tshibvumo of the Congress of the People (COPE), Ms Zaheera Ahmed Jooma for the Democratic Alliance (DA), Mr Khathutshelo Zacharia Mukwevho, an independent candidate and Mr Tshimangadzo David Mutsharini of the United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP). Ward 20 comprises Louis Trichardt New Town (east of the N1), Eltivillas, Makhado Park, Vleifontein, Bandelierkop and Munzhedzi, and their voting station is at the show hall.

The six candidates for ward 21 are Mr Franz Jacobus Bezuidenhout (ACDP), Mr Ntwa Bethuel Rasesu (ANC), Mr Abinar Rambau (AZAPO), Mr Walter Martin Schultz (COPE), Mr Abraham du Plooy (DA) and Mr Thabo Moses Mashau of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC). Ward 21 is made up of Louis Trichardt west of the N1, Tshikota, Songozwi, Khavhambe and Waterpoort, and they will vote at the activity room of the municipal library in Erasmus Street.

Nearly all ward candidates agree that water supply is the one aspect in service delivery that seriously needs improvement. Eight of the ward candidates managed to give some information about themselves and their views, which will be shared in alphabetical order according to the parties they represent.

ACDP’s Mahwayi (48), who hails form Bungeni, is a businesswoman and a pastor’s wife. Good service delivery to all people is important to Mahwayi. “I would like more Christian values for our young people, to curb teenage pregnancies, some of which occur for the sake of getting a child grant,” said Mahwayi. Her view on corruption is that it is the devil’s weapon.

The ACDP’s Bezuidenhout (32) is an entrepreneur who was born and bred in Louis Trichardt. He feels strongly about improving service delivery in respect of water and roads.

Mhladisa (41) of the ANC is a community leader and secretary of SANCO. He was born in Tshikota and matriculated in Tshiawelo Secondary School in Vleifontein. “I stand for quality and speedy service delivery within the ward as informed by the five key ANC priorities, namely crime, education, health, rural development and decent jobs, especially for the youth and women,” Mhladisa said.

The ANC’s 29-year-old Rasesu was born in Musina, matriculated at Masedi Combined School in Tshikota, studied at UJ and is a state accountant. “I would like people around ward 21 to be united and speak with one voice and push for service delivery. We don’t even want people to spend a whole day without water,” Rasesu said. Education and the improvement of the activities of young people are matters near to Rasesu’s heart.

COPE’s Tshibvumo (39) knows exactly what he is aiming for. “I want to make an end to employment that is given only to members of the ruling party and the ‘boetie-boetie’ tendering system. I want ratepayers to get a return for the money they pay and make sure the basic services like water and sanitation are addressed as a matter of urgency,” Tshibvumo said. He was born in Thsikota, matriculated at Tshiawelo Secondary in Vleifontein, completed tertiary studies at Univen and is an area sales manager for Coca-Cola.

Schultz (55) also puts his focus on basic services for all people. He was born in Louis Trichardt, matriculated at Capricorn High School in Polokwane and is a journalist by profession. “A ward councillor should be accountable and report back to his ward. I am serious about accountability,” Schultz said.

The DA’s Jooma, a 38-year-old local businesswoman, hails from Durban. “I undertake to provide basic essential services for all and to restore Louis Trichardt to its former beauty and state of cleanliness. In Vleifontein, women are carrying water for kilometres, since basic water and sanitation promised in 1994 have not realized,” Jooma said. She would also like to restore moral and family values in order to eradicate HIV/Aids and teenage pregnancies.

Du Plooy, businessman and experienced DA PR councillor, wants to ensure that all people, rich and poor, enjoy service delivery. “I undertake to represent everyone in my ward and municipality at the highest level of personal integrity and professional conduct,” Du Plooy said and reminded voters that the DA provides clean government and an infrastructure that works. Du Plooy said that in the previous municipal elections the DA lost ward 21 to the ANC with a small margin of between 100 and 200 votes.