Political bigwigs in Plett ahead of crucial by-elections

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Political bigwigs hit the campaign trail in Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday, a week ahead of what is expected to be hard-fought by-election after serious political turbulence in the Bitou Municipality over the past two months.

The DA and ANC will be vying for the ward 7 council seat on September 17 after ANC councillor Nolan Stuurman suddenly resigned in the midst of a recent court battle for control of the DA-led municipality.

A lot is at stake for both parties because if the DA wins the ward, the party would not need to rely on a coalition and if the ANC retains the ward, they could possibly go ahead with a move to serve a motion of no confidence in among others mayor Memory Booysen.

Six ANC councillors, along with COPE member and deputy mayor Adam van Rhyner, recently attempted to serve a motion of no confidence, but failed after among other issues the resignation of Stuurman.

The DA's candidate for ward 7 is current Bitou speaker Annelise Olivier, while long-time resident Sammy Jansen will represent the ANC.

The ANC will be sending a number of high-profile members to Bitou over the next few days. Communications Deputy Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Bheki Cele and Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana will be doing canvassing in the Kwanokuthula and Kranshoek areas on Wednesday.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Fatima Chohan will be visiting Kranshoek and Harkerville on Thursday, while Western Cape ANC leader Marius Fransman will be heading to these areas on Friday. Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula will also be visiting Bitou on Friday.

On Saturday Western Cape ANC secretary Songezo Mjongile will be campaigning in Kranshoek and Kwanokuthula while Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform Mcebisi Skwatsha will be canvassing there on Sunday.

DA leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille will head to Kranshoek for a public meeting on Saturday.

(Yolande Stander)