EDITOR – While the Lions certainly deserve applause for their near victory against the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby final, their thunder was largely stolen by a country rather glued to election results as the South African political playing field changed from moment to moment.
While there remains a minute minority who still believe politics, religion and business should not be discussed in the same conversation, the reality remains that children at primary school level are already prepared to pin their colours to the mast – and then not necessarily in agreement with their parents – which in turn speaks volumes for their observance and the angle of awareness created by the different political entities.
As the political playing fields seem leveled in various parts of the country with a power shift in some of the metros, the stage appears set for interesting times as we ascend towards the 2019 national and provincial elections.
Closer to home, the election results for the two main roleplayers in wards 93 and 97 that span across the larger Amanzimtoti and adjacent rural areas as a comparison to the 2011 LGE results:
Ward 93: (Amanzimtoti north of Lewis Drive, Umbogintwini, Athlone Park, Iziko and Ezimbokodweni)
2011
ANC 11112 votes = 66,54%
DA 4732 votes = 28,34%
2016
ANC 12786 votes = 64,48%
DA 5796 votes = 29,23%
Ward 97: (Illovo Beach, Winklespruit, St Winifreds, Warner Beach, Doonside and Amanzimtoti south of Lewis Drive)
2011
ANC 2388 votes = 14,38%
DA 13578 votes = 81,75%
2016
ANC 2177 votes = 10,84%
DA 17015 votes = 84,75%
Where it stands towards the composition of the Ethekwini council, the ANC as governing party gained no additional seats and remains at a 126 representation while the DA retained its status as official opposition, with a seat increase from 43 to 61 (qualifying for an additional executive committee seat), the IFP with 10 and the EFF with eight seats respectively and the remainder of the 219 seats being occupied by four independents and an array of minority entities.
Statistics courtesy of the IEC.
WARD 97 CLLR ANDRE BEETGE
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