WATCH: Verulam business forum urges residents to vote amid service-delivery concerns

Residents stand in line to cast their vote at Dawncrest Primary School.

The Verulam Business Forum (VBF) has urged residents to vote in the 2026 Local Government Elections, while raising concerns about sewage, water shortages, crime and declining conditions in the CBD.

Its leader, Roshan Lil-Ruthan said citizens should vote to make a difference to the lives of their children and grandchildren.

“Don’t be apathetic. If you don’t vote you lose your right to complain. Join me and other citizens and vote,” said Lil-Ruthan.

Polling stations at Everest Heights Primary, Dianthus Primary and Dawncrest Primary had a few voters marking their ballot papers by midday,

Lil-Ruthan said the polling stations would most likely get busier later in the day.

He said VBF wanted the status quo of businesses to change in Verulam.

“The CBD in Verulam is in a state of decay. We have to relentlessly pursue officials to have services delivered in the CBD. However, when places like Umhlanga and Umdloti lodge complaints it’s fixed immediately.

“In the CBD we have raw sewage flooding parts of a street near our banking institutions.

It’s unbecoming for citizens to walk around in such conditions,” said Li-Ruthan.

He said residents were driving outside of Verulam to shop because of the condition in the CBD.

“The CBD is the heart of the community. If we can’t create a conducive business district it will be disastrous,” said Lil-Ruthan.

He said the water shortages was another challenge the community faced.

Buffelsdale and Dawncrest encountered water cuts daily. He said Trenance Park relied largely on tankers for its water supply.

“We have some good councillors who have stood by us. But there are others who have been absent to our people. So, the most important mark you’ll be making is on the ballot paper. Make the right choice. Vote for a councillor who will be at your beck and call.” he said.

Lil-Ruthan said for the past 30 years, service delivery has gone backwards.

He said the VBF wanted to partner with elected officials to get service delivery moving.

He said the VBF was championing against water outages, unswept streets and crime.