Residents of Ivory Park, north of Johannesburg, have threatened to boycott the upcoming local government elections, citing chronic poor service delivery that has severely disrupted daily life in the area.
Community members report enduring ongoing sewage leaks, frequent water cuts, and uncollected rubbish piling up on roadsides. They describe the situation as creating unsafe and unsanitary living conditions, with the stench of accumulating waste becoming a daily ordeal.
One resident highlighted the broader challenges, stating that the community is planning to take to the streets in protest. “We are no longer interested to go and vote for the local incoming because there is a challenge of poor service delivery such as high crime in our community where police are not working closely with the community, also issue of water, there’s a shortage of water in this community,” the resident said.
Local businesses are also bearing the brunt. A bakery owner explained the direct impact: “The rubbish on the floor means the flies are flying all over the place. So we get affected by those things. What I can say is that we need assistance ASAP.”
Ward 133 councillor Teboho Marumo acknowledged the issues and said efforts are underway to address them. “It is easy for me to commit because I conduct an oversight on a daily basis. I ensure that they do what they have promised. It can’t slip me,” the councillor stated.
Regarding the illegal dumping spots, Councillor Marumo appealed to residents: “It’s a problem. I’m appealing to residents, you know, pick it up with [the] ward clean today and the following day you find people have dumped. It’s just an appeal that let’s work together to maintain the cleanliness of Ivory Park and the entire area.”
Despite assurances from officials, residents and business owners say they have yet to see meaningful improvements on the ground.
The growing frustration has led many in the community to question the value of participating in the upcoming elections, as they feel their concerns over basic services—including water supply, waste management, and crime prevention—continue to be neglected.
