The Democratic Alliance (DA) may have won the Local Government Elections in Mitchell’s Plain, inclusive of nine wards, according to preliminary results yesterday afternoon.
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) website’s digital municipal election results, the African National Congress (ANC) with 30.21% is a close contender in Ward 43 (Strandfontein and parts of Philippi) and the DA has 41.86%. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is third with 11%.
These were the results at about 3pm yesterday, Tuesday November 2, for 29 of the 53 voting stations in Mitchell’s Plain.
The Good political party takes second place with 12.03% in Ward 78 (Lentegeur and parts of Portland) and the Cape Coloured Congress (CCC) comes in third with 11% of the votes.
The Patricia de Lille-led Good party had the third most votes in three of the wards with over 10%.
Light showers on voter’s day, Monday November 1, deterred some residents from making their mark while others returned to the polling queue later in the day.
Maureen Sables, 69, from Portland, was disgusted with the makeshift shelter provided by the IEC at a voting station in Montagu Drive.
“People were prepared to stand close together, irrespective of social distancing to avoid a pole possibly falling on them,” she said.
Ms Sables said better planning was required in the event of adverse weather.
Henry Ockhuis, 87, who lives 200m from Portland Primary School, left the queue because it was too long.
“Previously they let the elderly go in almost immediately. I got there and this guy told me to join the queue. Nobody told me that their policy had changed,” he said.
“I just walked away. Everybody must stand in the queue,” said Mr Ockhuis.
Shamila Daniels, 26, returned to the Freedom Park hall voting queue after 5pm.
“I want to vote to make our future a better place,” she said.
Vanessa Jantjies, 59, from Tafelsig, also returned to the queue – hopeful that her vote would make a difference.
“We are desperate for change. Especially here in Tafelsig,” she said.
Strandfontein informal settlement community leader Ruwayda Curnow said she would not be voting.
“What have they done for us in the last five years.
“If people ask me who to vote for I say vote yourself,” she said.
Ms Curnow, a Community Work Programme (CWP) supervisor, said no one had given them seeds or helped with their agricultural programme.
“We asked and sacrificed,” she said.
Ms Curnow said they demanded water and electricity.
“We demonstrated, protested went from pillar to post to ensure we have basic services.
“Now I tell my people I am proud of you. You did it,” she said.
She said no one deserved her vote and that she would work with political parties for the benefit of her community.
These results were reported at the time of going to print. Find more updated figures on www.plainsman.co.za
