DA sets election targets

February 2 2011 at 10:18am
By Luvuyo Mjekula

INLSA
Western Cape DA leader Theuns Botha has dismissed speculation that former ID leader Patricia de Lille has already been chosen to replace Dan Plato as Cape Town s mayor. Photo: Mxolisi madela
The DA yesterday vowed to go all out and win control of all 30 Western Cape municipalities in the upcoming local government elections, it emerged after a two-day bosberaad for the party’s provincial parliamentary caucus in Paarl yesterday.

“It might seem like pie in the sky, I know, but it is not. We are going all out, in full force,” provincial leader and Health MEC Theuns Botha said during a press conference attended by MECs for Local Government Anton Bredell and Human Settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela, and DA federal deputy chairman Ivan Meyer.

The DA controls the majority of the 30 municipalities in the Western Cape but Botha said two municipalities, including ANC-run Bitou, were set to pose a challenge in the forthcoming elections.

However, he said: “We have got people there and we will be looking to make inroads.”

Eden District municipality is also controlled by the ANC.

Botha said the DA was selecting candidates for councillors and the party was “obsessed” with selecting only the best people.

About 1 400 aspirant candidates had applied at an average of three to five applications per ward.

“The DA has received a great many applications from aspirant candidates, exceeding our wildest expectations.

“We have excellent candidates and the selection process is ongoing,” said Botha.

The highly publicised mayoral selection had not yet started but applications from four candidates had been received and Botha said they expected more candidates.

Botha said he could not confirm whether former ID leader and now Social Development MEC Patricia de Lille, who had been tipped to take over the mayor’s job, was among the candidates.

“I don’t know if (De Lille) is interested in being mayor. I haven’t spoken to her,” Botha said.

He said the diversity of its candidates proved that the party had “grown across racial lines to prove its true diversity”.

The party had won 24 new wards in by-elections between the previous local elections in 2006 and August 2010.

Since the 2009 general election it has won eight new wards from the ANC.

According to Botha, this was a sign of sustainable and meaningful growth.

“The party has made major inroads into all communities and focused on improving the lives of all people where we govern.”

In an unexpected development, the party announced it would not be taking up any coalition offers in the forthcoming elections because it was able to stand on its own.

In the past the party had been dependant on coalitions just to be in government.

But it was running the Western Cape and did not need coalitions any longer.

“We are no longer just an opposition party,” said Botha.

Although he said coalitions were a big challenge, Botha said the DA and ID partnership had borne fruits.

At the bosberaad, the provincial caucus also reviewed performance in the provincial parliament and the executive.

DA leaders were in the process of finalising the party’s election manifesto which would provide a framework to all DA councillors on how to improve service delivery and set standards of good local governance.

They were also geared to make inroads into non-traditional areas, said Botha. - Cape Times

luvuyo.mjekula@inl.co.za

The Star

Comments by Sonny

Before SA is in the same situation as Egypt, lets rid this Country of the Zuma's Grip.

We are tired od Sushi & Corruption!!