Opposition parties reflect on voting day, poll results

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - On election day, 1 November, the electorate faced several challenges in voting.

Despite the 33 voting stations across the greater Mossel Bay area being ready on time and a positive spirit being reported by journalists and freelancers of the Mossel Bay Advertiser, the day was soon characterised by long queues.

This seems to have been caused by scanners that did not work properly and voters who had registered, not being reflected on the voters' roll. Later in the afternoon, a downpour of rain further complicated matters as voters in certain wards were deterred from going to the polls.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission's website, the final results are as follows:

Democratic Alliance - 66.24%;
African National Congress - 15.26%;
Freedom Front Plus - 5.42%;
Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa) - 5.06%;
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) - 2.58%;
Patriotic Alliance - 2.01%.

The 29 seats in council have been allocated as follows:

DA – 19;
ANC – 5;
FF Plus – 2;
Icosa – 1;
ACDP – 1;
PA – 1.

The FF Plus gained another seat this election and the Patriotic Alliance will have their first representation on the local council.

Voting day issues
In general, opposition parties have raised several issues concerning the IEC, regarding the fairness of the elections and the efficiency of processes.

Parties complained about registered voters not being on the voters' list, bad communication, problems with the demarcation of wards and incorrect documentation produced by IEC officials.

The PA, ACDP and FF Plus told the Advertiser that they would be making official complaints with the IEC. Icosa too, complained about "incompetency" on the IEC staffers' part, which they believe cost them votes. The ANC said the rush to prepare for the election was reflected on the IEC processes, from registration to voting day. Some voters who registered on registration day were not reflecting on the voters' roll.

The Advertiser obtained comment from the opposition parties, following the results.

Icosa - Dawid Kamfer, burgemeesterskandidaat
Dit was 'n baie moeilike verkiesing. Daar was groot ontevredenheid oor mense wat geregistreer het en toe nie op die kiesersrol was nie. Icosa het baie jongmense geregistreer en talle van hulle moes by die stembus omdraai. Die rye was vir sommige ook net te lank.

Die reën het 'n groot impak gehad. Van ons kiesers het nie die hulpbronne om in onweer by die stembus te kom nie.

Persoonlik, is ek teleurgesteld in die gemeenskap se ondersteuning. Woorde kan my teleurstelling nie beskryf nie. Icosa was die afgelope vyf jaar daar as iemand gekla het en ons het ondersteun. As jy 'n beter lewe wil hê, moet jy stem vir verandering. Ons bly egter positief en gaan vorentoe. Ons moet ons jongmense begin ontwikkel en 'n kans gee. Dankie aan die kiesers wat Icosa wel ondersteun het. Icosa sal in die volgende vyf jaar aanhou om die gemeenskap te dien. Ons is gewoond werk. Icosa sal nog sy sukses behaal in die Wes-Kaap. Geluk en sterkte aan al die partye. Ons is nou in dieselfde bootjie.

ACDP - Jeanette Gouws, mayoral candidate
We were hopeful voters would endorse the ACDP principles and values by giving us more seats in council. It would have been a great help to share a large workload.

We are, however, grateful for retaining the seat to allow us to function as an effective and efficient watchdog over the public purse. The ACDP will remain a proactive, solution-seeking representative in council to ensure justice is respected and the community is served.

The ACDP will hold the majority party accountable for all the promises made to the electorate during campaigning. We trust the ACDP will retain a good working relationship and cooperation with the majority party. Municipalities function best when there is a vigilant opposition.

PA - Marlon Daniels, national chair
The PA hoped to get the DA support to under 50% in the Western Cape. As for the electorate, do not complain when you have voted people into power. The Western Cape is still controlled by nationalists in the form of the DA.

We believe the elements had an impact on voters' behaviour. People were despondent about voting and the weather helped them make up their minds not to vote.

Having a seat for the first time will give the PA a footprint in the local council and voters a reference for the 2024 elections. The PA is very resolute when it comes to councillors being in council to serve people. Seats in council belong to the party, not a person. We are starting a hotline, where any misconduct of councillors can be reported. If you are not there to serve people, we will remove you with speed.

The PA advocates getting God back into schools and keeping and creating jobs by removing illegal, undocumented foreigners from employment. Once all the results have been officially declared, we will conduct training with all our councillors regarding the do's and don'ts.

The PA councillor for Mossel Bay is Faizel Porter.

ANC - local election team coordinator Nthabiseng Lichaba
We thank all who voted on election day, particularly those who voted for the ANC.

These were difficult elections. They were conducted in a climate of uncertainty and fear brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

We were hoping to increase our representation from the seven councillors we had last term. There was a huge decrease in voter turnout, which is a concern not just to Mossel Bay, but to South Africa at large.

The ANC will continue to push for the Mossel Bay Municipality to adopt pro poor policies and to deliver better services to under-developed and rural communities; also to ensure that procurement of goods and services is equally spread across all population groups in Mossel Bay.

The ANC councillors to serve Mossel Bay are: Ward 1 - Dubula Sibabalo, Ward 2 - Noxolo Gwaza, Ward 3 - Zithulele Matyesini, Ward 12 - Thembeni Buda, Ward 15 - Mzwandile Mkhonto.

Vryheidsfront Plus - Elroy Baron, partyvoorsitter
Ek wil eerstens vir die lojale Vryheidsfront Plus-kiesers vir hulle ondersteuning en ook ons nuwe kiesers wat by ons aangesluit het, bedank.

Die wegwys van groot persentasie kiesers wat nie gereflekteer het op die kieserslyste nie, maar wat wel geregistreer het was 'n groot verleentheid vir almal teenwoordig.

As party het ons baie beter verwag, maar kla nie oor ons ekstra setel wat ons gewen het nie. Ook ons kiesersgetalle het baie verbeter. Ons kan daarop voortbou en verbeter.

Ons wil 'n wesentlike verskil maak aan ons dorp se tekortkominge soos veiligheid en veg teen die hoë belastings en tariewe van veral ons pensionarisse en arm gemeenskappe asook besighede.

• For a more detailed overview of the results, visit https://results.elections.org.za/dashboards/lge/.

Die nuusredakteur van die Mossel Bay Advertiser het 'n insiggewende gesprek met prof Erwin Schwella, 'n kenner in regeerkunde, oor die plaaslike verkiesing.

Luister na die onderhoud hier: