VF Plus Helderberg
Ward 84 — Somerset West
Somerset West resident standing for practical, responsive local government and stronger Helderberg representation in the City of Cape Town.
Groen Sal Dit Doen!
I grew up in Somerset West and Strand and have lived in the Western Cape my whole life. More recently I moved back with my family. Over the years I have watched Somerset West and the wider Helderberg Basin grow substantially, in both size and importance, within the Western Cape.
In 2013 I left my engineering studies at Stellenbosch University to pursue a career in entrepreneurship. Since then I have built several businesses and helped turn around many more. That experience has taught me that lasting improvement comes from understanding a problem fully, using resources carefully and implementing practical solutions. It is exactly the approach I want to bring to local government.
I am also passionate about business and financial education, particularly with a view to helping young South Africans develop the skills needed to create opportunities for themselves. Having already invested significant time and resources towards this myself, I believe local government should similarly create and support an environment in which businesses, entrepreneurs and communities can thrive.
After years of voting for change from team Blue, I have decided to join team Green. My decision to stand comes largely from wanting to be more directly involved in getting things done locally, and helping to shape the area for the next generation. As a candidate I hope to apply my experience and perspective to improving local government through accountable spending, efficient service delivery and decisions that are shaped by community needs, with proper attention given to infrastructure, development, housing, our farming areas and the everyday municipal issues that affect people across the ward.
I stand for common-sense governance, a push for lower rates and taxes, and serious attention to vagrancy and the other issues affecting Ward 84, Somerset West and the Helderberg.
I also believe the Helderberg needs a stronger voice within the City of Cape Town. Good governance requires challenge and balance so that local communities are properly represented within the wider metro. My fellow VF Plus candidates in the Helderberg and I are all entering local politics for the first time, and we share a common interest in seeing our region properly represented and its concerns taken seriously. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of doing my part to build a better future for those to come.
01
The issue
Residents report the same faults repeatedly, and too many of them sit unresolved because nobody follows them through.
What I will work for
Log and track ward issues properly, escalate service-delivery failures to the responsible City departments, keep residents informed on progress and press officials where problems persist.
02
The issue
Households and businesses in Ward 84 carry a heavy municipal cost burden and often cannot see the value returned to them.
What I will work for
Push for lower rates and taxes, question tariff and valuation decisions in Council, and ask for clear reporting on what ward residents receive for what they pay.
03
The issue
Somerset West continues to grow, and infrastructure, housing and land-use decisions have long-term consequences for the ward and its surrounding farming areas.
What I will work for
Scrutinise development and land-use applications, advocate for infrastructure capacity to be planned ahead of growth, and represent residents' concerns in the relevant City processes.
04
The issue
Vagrancy and the deterioration of public spaces are raised constantly by residents across the ward.
What I will work for
Advocate for consistent, lawful management of public land, escalate hotspots to law enforcement and the relevant City units, and support practical responses that recognise the social realities involved.
My first responsibility will be to the residents of Ward 84. But I will not work in isolation. Our VF Plus candidates across Somerset West, Strand and Gordon's Bay intend to cooperate across ward boundaries and strengthen the Helderberg's voice within the City of Cape Town Council.
A vote for your local candidate strengthens the whole Helderberg.
Groen Sal Dit Doen!
VF Plus national toll-free line: 0861 700 700
Join our WhatsApp group