Ballito councillors Jack Abrahams and Walter Schotter have pledged to focus on service delivery, infrastructure, electricity supply and municipal accountability after the 2026 local government elections.
Councillor-elect Schotter won Ward 6, while Abrahams gained control of Ward 30 in KwaDukuza, both new Democratic Alliance (DA) councillors.
Speaking to sundaytribune.co.za after his victory, Abrahams said that fortunately for residents of Ballito, sewerage and water issues were the responsibility of Siza Water.
"Siza Water is very reliable with only a 6% water loss. We will continue working with Siza Water to improve the lives of our residents," he said.
Abrahams also highlighted that crime in Ballito was under control.
"But, I will continue working closely with the Umhlali SAPS, the regional and local community policing forum, neighborhood watch, security companies and other stakeholders," he said.
Commenting on the electricity outages, he said the power outages remained was one of their concerns.
"As we approach the festive season there will be a higher demand for power. The council resolved last month to increase supply to Zimbali and parts of Ballito from the Dukuza Substation ahead of the season. But, holistically as the DA we will look to establish more stable grids," Abrahams said.
He reiterated that once in office he wanted to give the residents the value they paid for in services.
"I just want to say thank the residents of Ward 30 once again for putting their trust in me as their actively voted councillor," said Abrahams.
Schotter said his focus would be on advocating for improved service delivery and infrastructure maintenance, including support for extending successful public-private partnerships that have improved water services.
"I will also work closely with local SAPS, community policing forum (CPF), neighbourhood watches and other stakeholders to strengthen community safety initiatives. In addition, I will push for better reporting, communication and accountability so that residents are kept informed and issues are resolved as efficiently as possible," he said.
Schotter committed to remain accessible, transparent and accountable to residents.
"I will keep the community informed about what can be achieved immediately and what requires longer-term planning, while advocating for skills-based administration, the filling of critical vacancies and improved accountability within the municipality," he said.
The new councillor praised the residents of Ward 6 for placing their trust in him.
"I will serve with humility, integrity and respect for all residents, regardless of how they voted. My role is to be your voice in council, to listen to your concerns and to advocate for the service delivery and community improvements our ward deserves," said Schotter.
Mary Kassam of Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (DOCRRA), said their measurement of the success of an election comes down to voter turnout and the experience residents had on the day, from an operational point of view.
"The bulk of our members live in Wards 6, 22 and 30, although we do have membership outside these areas. We were extremely pleased with the IEC teams on the Dolphin Coast. Firstly, we had several new voting stations which provided an improved experience for many voters. The teams at the stations were competent, organised and motivated and were able to handle any issues that came up quickly and professionally," she said.
Kassam revealed that their registration base increased by almost 40%, from 14,112 in 2021 to 19,749 in 2026.
"By contrast, registration numbers across the wider KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) grew by just under 23% in the same period. Average turnout on the Dolphin Coast increased from just over 61% in 2021 to just over 69% in 2026. The total number of voters who cast ballots went from 8,699 in 2021 to 13,628 in 2026, marking a 57% increase, which we are very proud of," she said.
Kassam said they would not speculate on the performance of any specific councillor or political party.
"It would appear that our residents have a high level of confidence in these individuals and their party. Accountability is one of the pillars of DOCRRA as an organisation and our work continues as we enter this new municipal term. As a recognised stakeholder, we will be standing for ward committees in many places and using those to drive downstream service delivery issues and make sure they are addressed," she said.
Kassam said they will continue to engage and collaborate with the municipality in every public participation forum, including the IDP, budget, imbizos, by-law input, bilateral executive meetings, and the KwaDukuza Electricity End User Forum.
"Of particular interest to us in this term is transparency, which has been severely lacking. Our previous council was in the poor habit of taking a plethora of items ‘in-committee’, which means they are debated behind closed doors, without reporting back to the community on the outcomes. That abuse of the ‘in-committee’ practice must end."
Kassam lauded residents who showed up to vote in these elections.
"Your vote is not just an expression of how you want to be governed, but a thread in the fabric that holds our democracy together. It is sacred, a reminder that all power flows from the people."
"But, participating in democracy does not begin and end at the ballot box, there are so many opportunities to make your voice heard at imbizos and through public participation processes. Use them, and do not hesitate to reach out to your newly-elected councillors when you have questions or concerns. They are there to serve you," she said.