CAPE TOWN - “Smaller parties remain resilient, relevant and resonate with certain sections of society, thus will win a number of wards …”
This was the sentiment expressed by, as the municipal elections on November 1 loom and several parties gun for a win.
In addition to Zwakala’s analysis, the Cape Times chatted to the mayoral candidates of a few of these parties to hear what their main focus areas are and where they believed the current government was failing.
The ground was “fertile” for smaller parties to make their presence felt, Zwakala said.
“The ground is fertile for them to make inroads on the DA. DA votes will decline in the province particularly in black and coloured areas where they have not been ’getting things done’.”
The African Restoration Alliance (ARA), who registered as a national political party in November last year with around 1 200 representatives across all provinces, have Grant Claasen as their mayoral candidate for Cape Town.
Service delivery, crime and housing were the main areas he identified as failures of the current local government.
“Our seven non-negotiables list our focus areas. We want crime-free schools, reduced unemployment (50 000 – 150 000 jobs per province), to provide superior hospital and clinic services and a taxi protection programme.
“We also want to review the housing waiting list – institute land equity and provide regular feedback to those on the waiting list. A vote for ARA is a vote for the restoration of this great country that we all call home,” he said.
In Stellenbosch, the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa) has a woman as its mayoral candidate, in the form of activist Bianca Booysen.
Some of their focus areas, she said, were economic empowerment, poverty alleviation, land and housing and gender-based violence.
“We are still reaping the repercussions of the unequal state. Inequities in our economy are still prevalent and for this I want to advocate on behalf of minorities, like in the rural parts of Stellenbosch, that do not have a voice. For far too long our destitute are being oppressed into thinking they should be grateful for what they get, now, without realising our indigenous rights of being native to this land.”
Another woman mayoral candidate, Puleng Mpokotho of the Democratic People’s Movement (DPM), said it was the scourge of poverty on the Cape Flats and Cape townships that inspired the movement to participate in the election.
“Poverty is a burning issue that must be addressed with a great sense of speed and urgency. Politicians cannot fathom the depth of the crisis on the Cape Flats and in the Cape townships.
“Billions of rand flow out of the Cape Flats and Cape township economies annually but who benefits from this wealth? The DPM believes that it is time for the Cape Flats economy to work for the people on the Cape Flats and it is time for the Cape township Economy to work for the people in the townships.”
Cape Times