Two parties, one battle
JOBURG - The race to the Ward 112 by-elections is on for 2 July and the ANC and DA are challenging each other's campaigns.
On 21 June, Ward 93 DA councillor Annette Deppe tweeted, “Ward 112 by-elections is a two-horse race on 2 July, today the ANC were intimidating voters on Le Roux Road, Midrand.”
This was followed by, “At least 20 of them were wearing Umkhonto we Sizwe uniforms and blocking off a whole street handing [out] pamphlets and intimidating.”
ANC candidate for Ward 112 Leverne Young was unconcerned by the allegations and tweeted a photograph of herself with the uniformed ex-Umkhonto we Sizwe officers.
“We take councillor Deppe’s tweet on this issue with less than a grain of salt,” said Young.
“We were there, there was no intimidation by any of our pamphlet distributors… Perhaps councillor Deppe was intimidated by the large number of supporters that were there, rather.”
Deppe also criticised the ANC’s pamphlets which offered services such as free basic water and electricity and RDP housing.
“Of course this is not something that residents and property owners in Ward 112 would qualify for… The ANC candidate’s manifesto instead points to little thought and a bad cut and paste job with irrelevant delivery undertakings,” said Deppe.
Young responded that these pamphlets aimed to inform residents of available services, while other pamphlets were more applicable to Ward 112, offering service delivery, crime management, more clinics and a recreation centre.
She in turn criticised the DA’s pamphlet which offered job creation.
“Perhaps this contradiction is a reflection of the DA’s confusion of the needs in Ward 112.”
She also mentioned that the DA candidate did not live in the ward.
However, DA Ward 112 candidate Candice James expressed how she had excellent relationships with Region A managers that she had built over the years as chairperson of Barbeque Downs Community. She said she had consulted with many residents and identified key needs in the ward. These included a recreation centre, library, clinic and school.
She also welcomed the R90-million upgrade for projects in Region A, into which Ward 112 falls, and said it was needed to improve the water, electricity and road infrastructure.
Young said it boiled down to whether residents wanted to live in a mediocre or model ward, and said residents should consider “what is happening with the future of the country, and that she was prepared to work with residents to “move this ward forward”.
She said her “proven track record in ward management” and the fact that she lived in the ward would ensure she undertook projects to enhance the ward.
Details: Leverne Young info@ward112.co.za; Candice James candy@jozi112.co.za
