The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) mayoral candidate, Amy Steyn, says balancing service delivery between established and rapidly growing communities will be a priority if she is elected mayor of Mogale City.
The Krugersdorp News invited mayoral candidates to outline their priorities and explain how they would address the municipality’s key challenges.
Steyn says development must be linked to available infrastructure, including water, electricity, roads and sanitation, while existing infrastructure must be maintained before scarce resources are committed to unnecessary new projects.
“Existing communities cannot be expected to carry the cost of uncontrolled expansion while their own infrastructure is deteriorating,” she says, adding that communities should have a meaningful say in municipal planning and budgeting.
Water and sanitation
Steyn identifies water and sanitation as immediate priorities, calling for preventative maintenance, leak detection, properly maintained pump stations and wastewater treatment facilities, and qualified technical staff.
She also wants infrastructure grants used for their intended purposes, contractors held accountable for substandard work, and progress reported to residents.
“The principle is straightforward: maintenance must become a municipal culture, not a crisis response,” she says.
The FF Plus manifesto proposes spending at least 8% of the book value of property, plant and equipment annually on maintenance.
Economic growth and job creation
Steyn says sustainable employment depends on creating conditions for private businesses to invest and expand, rather than simply increasing municipal jobs.
She identifies Mogale City’s agricultural areas, tourism assets, mining history and strategic location on the West Rand as economic opportunities.
Her priorities include reliable municipal services, reducing administrative red tape, protecting property rights and promoting the municipality as an investment and tourism destination in partnership with local businesses and industry.
Illegal dumping and public spaces
Steyn attributes some of the increase in illegal dumping to the closure of the landfill site, which she says has restricted access to proper waste disposal facilities.
Her proposed approach includes regular refuse removal, functional waste facilities, enforcement of municipal by-laws and planned maintenance of roads, stormwater systems, parks and public spaces.
She also wants the municipality to support community-led cleaning, recycling and greening initiatives.
“A clean and well-maintained town is not a luxury. It is part of effective local government, and it also contributes to safety and property values,” she says.
Municipal finances
Steyn says municipal spending must be transparent, with realistic budgets, strict financial controls, effective council oversight and procurement that delivers value for money.
She also calls for competent municipal management, accurate billing and improved debt collection, alongside support for genuinely vulnerable residents.
Residents who can afford to pay should meet their obligations, she says, but they should not continually face above-inflation tariff increases while service delivery deteriorates.
“Ultimately, residents should be able to see where their money goes and what they receive in return,” Steyn concludes.
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