However, the question on Boksburg residents’ lips is, does the DA have any real say in the running of Boksburg and if so, are they going to start seeing a significant improvement in the running of their city, service delivery, maintenance of the parks and roads?
“It would be disheartening to think that our votes were wasted, particularly as we were voting for change and for a party which promised that change,” says a concerned resident.
In South African politics it is the governing party that runs the Ekurhuleni metro, of which Boksburg is a part.
According to the DA deputy Chief Whip in Ekurhuleni, Benno Robinson, proportionally the ANC holds more power than the DA, which makes it the governing party and, as a result, financial, socio- and economic policies are formulated and driven by the ANC.
“This does not mean that the DA is impotent and does not challenge ANC policy it feels will be detrimental to the lives of residents.
“In portfolio committees, and council meetings, where the majority of decisions are made and policy is formulated, the DA always provides constructive input – challenging, debating and providing viable alternatives,” says Robinson.
He says that the DA councillors in Boksburg act swiftly when it comes to service delivery, specific problems such as potholes, broken streetlights, sewerage spills, account queries, power outages, pruning trees and the like.
“DA ward councillors are there to help and make sure these things are fixed efficiently; they build good relationships with officials and are able to escalate problems when necessary.”
However, says Robinson, the complication is that the framework in which the councillor must operate, is ANC framework.
“It is not impossible, but difficult – for a DA councillor to operate in a system that is fundamentally flawed.
“This is a challenge DA councillors face on a daily basis, yet in spite of this, every DA councillor does his or her upmost to ensure residents are treated equitably and with the dignity enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa,” says Robinson.
“Where the DA governs, it governs well,” he says, adding that Cape Town and Midvaal are examples of DA policy working to provide residents a better standard of living.
The DA is determined to win Ekurhuleni in 2016.
“Given the party’s hugely improved performance in the last general election it is very likely that it will be able to form the local government come 2016 and; therefore, it is imperative that every voter is registered and continues to support the DA.” – @IschkeBoksburg
