Ward 112 councillor dumps DA for the ANC before elections
MIDRAND - A week before the country's elections former Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor in Midrand, Leverne Young has joined the African National Congress (ANC).
Young said, “Hard a decision as it is, I believe that in joining the ANC I have made the right choice. I will have access to more resources and increase service delivery in Midrand where I also live.”
Young said that since the 2011 municipal elections she had worked hard to bring better service delivery to Midrand, but it had been a struggle. “Every year we gathered input from residents and submitted requests, but only received a fraction of what we asked for.”
“The ANC dominates Joburg city council, and control finances and expenditure. The ANC approached me and complimented the work I had done, saying my ward is the best managed in the city. I then made the decision to move.”
Criticising her former party Young said, “The current Gauteng DA leadership needs to mature and understand that its supporters and councillors are human beings, and until they do that introspection, the DA will not be ready to govern this province.”
Gauteng provincial leader of the DA, John Moodey told Midrand Reporter that Leverne’s move was expected. “We were not surprised that Leverne Young has joined the ANC. Over the past months we received many complaints from residents in her ward and ratepayers about Young’s performance as a councillor. After the complaints, we monitored her performance closely and Young did not appreciate that.”
Moodey added that Young had been after a certain post. “Young was upset that she was not appointed to the position of Shadow MMC of Community Safety in the Johannesburg DA caucus. Her joining the ANC has not weakened the DA at all.”
Moody said councillor Annette Deppe had been appointed to handle council service delivery complaints for Ward 112 in the interim.
Gauteng Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Lebogang Maile said, “The ANC welcomes anyone who chooses to be a member. We will no turn former DA councillor Leverne Young away.”
Ms Young’s defection to the ANC is no loss to the Democratic Alliance. In fact, her record as a DA councillor is so hopeless that she will fit in very well with her ANC colleagues. I sincerely hope that her DA successor will actually perform.