Election: the gloves are off
2011-05-12
Lise Beyers
IN a week’s time the people will have spoken. This will take place when voters in the Drakenstein area (there are 115 089 registered voters) take to the polls in this year’s Municipal Election. And judging from comments and the rate of election fever, many voters feel that the winds of change may be blowing. The past five years of ANC municipal rule has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride. The DA/ID coalition managed to temporarily oust the ruling party in 2007, only for the ANC to later grab hold of power again. And then the DA coalition again tried to grab the reins, by instituting a failed vote of no confidence against the party. And while the ANC and DA have their boxing gloves on for next week’s election, the big question amongst many is what effect the relatively new political party, Cope, will have on the outcome. The ANC has already lost various of their stalwarts to this party. When the man in the street is asked about expectations for the elections, the answer remains simple - service delivery and housing. Zethimbele Kem, a well-known political activist in Mbekweni and former ANC candidate, highlighted this fact this week. “I have been speaking to many residents of Mbekweni and we are all disillusioned by the ruling party. “During the past five years few houses have been built and other housing projects such as Drommedaris, have come to a halt. The people are becoming restless at empty promises and I can predict that there will definitely be a swing away from the ANC.” Elizabeth Rinquest from Paarl East comments, “Political candidates just tell lies before an election. They make promises which come to nothing. “In our community only certain people get preference when it comes to municipal handouts. I am a pensioner and not once have I received anything from the Municipality.” Community worker Henry October says that the Municipality must do more for the many destitute communities. “Councillors must become more involved in community projects. We have a huge problem with poverty in the valley and it should be a number one priority.” A resident of Chicago, who prefers not to be named, said that her main concern is crime. “The Municipality does not want to get involved here at all. In our area there are many drug dealers and illegal shebeens who target our children. “They must seriously do something about this, and especially the foreigners who are also involved in a lot of criminal activities. They must get out.” Another Paarlite, Mike O’Shea, says that he would like his money spent adequately by the Municipality and not on sumptuous dinners and tea parties. “Just look how much money the Municipality wastes. Take for example the hundreds of thousands of rands which were spent on a dinner for a rugby coach. “The Municipality is a business and should be run as such.” The DA mayoral candidate, Adv Gesie van Deventer, said that it was time for change. She would like to see the Drakenstein established as a region of excellence, whereby its residents will be empowered economically, with general improvement of living standards and equitable opportunities for youth, disadvantaged and rural residents. “It is crucial that service delivery of excellence be delivered for all. A zero tolerance stance must be taken on corruption and a clear fiscal policy with no wastage of taxpayers’ money.” The unofficial mayoral candidate for the ANC, Abe Bekeer, committed himself to working at ground level with all communities. “I am confident that the ANC will do very well in the elections. We will continue to address poverty and the housing needs. “We can only improve on what we have already done.”
More
News
|
