Political parties are wooing voters ahead of a by-election in Ward 102 next week.
The DA took the ward with a 94% win in the 2016 local government poll, but councillor Carin Brynard quit the party and joined the secessionist Cape Party after falling out with mayor Patricia de Lille in August.
Ms Brynard will now contest the ward, which is part of Kraaifontein and Brackenfell, as a Cape Party candidate, on Wednesday. The party is in favour of the Western Cape declaring independence from South Africa.
Ms Brynard was the ward’s councillor for 11 years, but she says she no longer believes in the DA.
“The DA’s policies are now similar to the ANC’s policies.”
She said her party wanted negotiations with the ANC-controlled government to end what it saw as ANC oppression of the Western Cape. Failing which the party would use “all legal and peaceful means” to get greater autonomy for the Western Cape – including independence, if it won a popular mandate in province for that option.
Freedom Front Plus candidate Wilma Fouche said “ill-considered high-density and low-cost housing developments” in the ward would add to traffic problems in the area.
She vowed to tackle the “influx of homeless people”, fix water supply and sewage problems and build speeds bumps where they were needed.
Ms Fouche said FF+ was the only organisation that had shown itself to be an effective defender of minority rights among all population groups.
Economic Freedom Fighters Economic Freedom Fighters candidate Elizabeth Sabrina Ruiters promised to be available 24 hours a day, end cadre deployment and set up a patrol system to fight crime.
“We also provide free wi-fi to assist with academic support and employment search, job creation and job rotation.”
The EFF, she said, prioritised economic development programmes, the protection of women and children from violence and access to “quality free education” and 24-hour community clinics.
The DA candidate Rhynhardt Bresler said the party’s track record spoke for itself.
“Service delivery is our priority. I intend to continue doing this and give the residents of this ward my best,” he said.
ACDP candidate Harm Engelbrecht said public participation was a mere formality for the City, particularly in terms of the budget and planning matters like cell mast installations and new developments.
The ACDP would insist on “genuine consultation” with ample time to respond.
ANC regional secretary Vuyiso JJ Tyhalisisu promised to provide Northern News with contact information for the party’s candidate, Laurentius Petran Theart, but failed to do so before this edition went to print.
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, there are 17 739 registered voters in the ward.
Special voters will be done on Tuesday November 28, from 8am to 5pm. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 9pm on Wednesday November 29.
