For local opposition parties in Makana Municipality, there is much to smile about. Two new political parties emerged in this week's local government elections, joining the Democratic Alliance, which won three additional wards in Makana this week.
For local opposition parties in Makana Municipality, there is much to smile about. Two new political parties emerged in this week's local government elections, joining the Democratic Alliance, which won three additional wards in Makana this week.
Still with majority favour, the African National Congress won more than all the opposition parties combined in the 14 contested wards. "I'm elated," said Les Reynolds, the new chairperson of the Democratic Alliance in Makana for the next five years. "We're getting stronger and stronger," he added. "For the DA to make inroads in a [traditionally]ANC stronghold [shows]that we have presented the electorate with credible options."
In this week's voting, the DA won Wards 3, 4, 8 and 12 – three more than it had in the last elections. Relatively new in Makana politics, the Congress of the People (Cope) and Makana Independent New Deal (Mind), a grouping of local independents, joined the DA as part of the new opposition in Makana Municipality.
Both parties won enough votes on the Proportional Representation list to earn one seat each in the new Makana Municipality council. Yesterday, representatives from both parties welcomed the election outcome, saying that despite lack of resources (for Mind) and internal strife (for Cope), both now "have a foot in the door".
Jock McConnachie, the founder of Mind, believes that this is due to a large-scale voter stay away in Makana – similar to what occurred across the Eastern Cape – where it was reported that only half the number of registered voters in the province actually voted on Wednesday.
"I think the overall results are very healthy for Makana Municipality," said McConnachie, adding, "there is massive dissatisfaction across all of Makana, more than what is reflected by the results." Nozipho Plaatjie, Cope's deputy chairperson in Makana, said: "[Going into the election], we had so many challenges inside the party, let alone from outside. "[As such] we left room for disappointment because of these internal conflicts. But we are happy we participated, and with the results."
Mbuyiseli Sandi, ANC chairperson in Makana, declined to give comment yesterday on two occasions, saying the Makana branch of the ANC would meet later in the afternoon. Until then, he would not comment, he said.
