MBOMBELA – A year before the 2016 local-government elections, residents of Steiltes and Nelsville are going to the polls. The forthcoming by-election in ward 17 will pit a political newbie against an old war horse, one from the ruling ANC and the other from the official opposition.
The previous ward councillor, Mr Werner le Grange, resigned on June 1 to take up the position of provincial managing director for the DA in Mpumalanga, leaving his position vacant.
Ms Wilna de Beer of the ANC and Ms Sanley van der Merwe of the DA will be contesting the by-election on Augustus 19.
For Van der Merwe the election is about the party retaining its seat. She is new to politics, but has been a member and activist for the party for a while, but says she is ready to play a larger role.
“Considering how things are going in our country, you can only scream and talk so much while standing on the sidelines,” she said.
She says the understands the different challenges faced by the two specific communities residing in the ward. “In Nelsville unemployment, crime and substance abuse are rife. In Steiltes people are more concerned about issues like illegal dumping.”
To address this, she believes local from the area must be given priority when appointing workers for municipal projects. As a financial advisor Van der Merwe is no stranger to corporate hours, so taking on a new full-time job doesn’t daunt her.
“I will find enough time for it because it is important to me. This is my passion and it is something I want to do,” she said.
Van der Merwe is also a well-known face in the area, and she thinks voters can identify with her.
“You have to connect with people on a personal level. You can’t just be a face on a poster or a flyer or someone who serves on the city council. You can’t accomplish anything on your own. The community must pull together,” she said.
De Beer is more experienced, having served as a DA councillor in Mbombela. She was a member of the party for 16 years before leaving earlier this year to join the ANC.
At heart she is a social worker and she wants to give more back to the community. This is something she thinks she can accomplish better in the ANC structures.
“I thought perhaps I can play a bigger contributing role in the community with the ANC. I think people trust you more when you don’t come from the opposition in local government,” she said.
She feels strongly that people need a return on their investment, on the rates and taxes they pay.
“People trust me and with the backing of the ruling party I will be able to accomplish more for all the residents. I am the link between the money and decision makers in council and the public.”
She knows the challenges are enormous. “We need to utilise available funding to create jobs for people from the area. We have to stop standing on the sidelines, complaining. We have to start thinking in terms of ‘we are all in this together'”.
She concluded, “People need to realise they are not voting for Zuma, they are voting for a candidate who will help take them forward”.
• The voting stations are LVCC, Laerskool Bergland and Nelsville Community Hall. The polls will be open from 07:00 to 21:00 on August 19.
