DA leader and Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi. Picture: Henk Kruger/Cape Argus
Durban — The DA is pulling out all the stops to defend the four wards the party convincingly won during the 2021 local government elections ahead of the by-elections set for September 11, 2024.
This comes from the DA’s political defeat after losing the eThekwini Municipality Ward 34 to an independent candidate, Andrew Akkers. Areas that fall under the ward include Greenwood Park, Kenville and Sea Cow Lake.
Akkers is also chairperson of the ward’s Ratepayers and Residents Association (RRA). He snatched the ward off the DA with 43% of the votes.
Leaving nothing to chance, the party has deployed its bigwigs, including its high-ranking Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, provincial chairperson Francois Rodgers (Finance MEC in KZN), and Mmabatho Tembe, who is the deputy speaker in the provincial legislature to ward 33 on Monday.
In a charm offensive aimed at wooing votes, the bigwigs will hold a community meeting on Monday at the Glenwood Presbyterian Church main hall alongside the party’s ward councillor 33 candidate Fran “Kay” Kristopher.
The DA won the ward by 67% during the 2021 local polls, which became vacant after its former councillor, Sakhile Mngadi, was deployed to the provincial legislature as an MPL (Member of the Provincial Legislature) by the DA after the May 29 elections.
The ward consists of areas such as Umbilo, Berea and Glenwood.
The high rate of crime was among the long-standing grievances of the residents in the ward -- where the DA had enjoyed a long grip.
The DA will also fight to retain Ward 35, which includes uMhlanga and surrounding areas, which was left vacant after Nicole Bollman, DA councillor, was dispatched to Parliament after the May elections.
The party won the ward by 86% during the 2021 local polls.
Another showdown will happen in Ward 36, where the DA raked in 82% of votes in 2021. The ward was left without a councillor after party councillor Shontel de Boer was deployed to the provincial legislature.
The battle for control of Ward 15 under uMdoni Local Municipality will also take centre stage as the DA has vowed to defend the ward.
Despite its overwhelming majority in the wards it will be defending, the DA is not taking the upcoming contest lightly.
Ahead of the 11 by-elections to take place in KZN, the ANC, ActionSA and the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe Party were among the parties that have thrown their hats in the ring in the by-elections, which are expected to serve as a precursor to the upcoming local government in 2026.
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Daily News