Yet another political party has emerged in what will likely be highly-contested local government elections in the OR Tambo district.Residents of Corana administrative area near Mthatha have formed the United Party, which is set to field candidates in 10 wards.
The party is in the process of registering with the Electoral Commission.
United Party chairman Thembinkosi Matyholo said they had heard many promises from those in power relating to houses, jobs and food parcels but “nothing ever materialised”.
The decision to contest the elections was taken amid allegations that desperate youth were overlooked for work in a roads project in the community.
“We are going to increase our membership and contest elections in other areas besides Nyandeni and King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD). We will focus on local government elections for now.”
The United Party joins the Mthatha Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association which, after failed talks with KSD Municipality, decided to stand for next year’s local government elections.
The association will also contest elections in the OR Tambo district and KSD. The United Party will also have ward councillor candidates in KSD’s Mqanduli.
The Daily Dispatch has also reported that traditional leaders threatened to field their own candidates in the upcoming local government elections.
This was announced by Contralesa president Chief Setlamorago Thobejane during its recent elective conference in Mthatha.
In Sterkspruit the Sterkspruit Civic Association will also be contesting elections for the first time next year. The association has vowed to take over Senqu municipality.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said he had not been informed about the grievances of Corana community members.
“It would be surprising that there is a company operating in an area where our people should be beneficiaries but they are not.
“It would be unfortunate if that is true. However, that cannot be used as an excuse by people to take the decision of contesting the elections.
“But as the ruling party we must follow up on legitimate concerns. I do not know what is happening there specifically but those are matters that we will attend to when they are raised.”
Mabuyane said he would look into the Nyandeni situation.
Political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni said the new parties would not win councils, but their candidates would be the bargaining members who “could find themselves on mayoral committees”.
He said the smaller parties were there to spoil the party for bigger political parties who might need to entice them to side with them.
Political analyst and cultural expert Nomboniso Gasa said ratepayers’ associations and traditional leaders were meant to be non-partisan.
“Traditional leaders are supposed to be above party politics. Even if they have political affiliation of their own they should be above party politics,” Gasa said. “What the president of Contralesa has done is to throw traditional leaders into the fray of political contestation…it is a very dangerous fray.”
On ratepayers’ associations, Gasa said contesting elections would render them “vulnerable to partisan politics”.
“I am not convinced that ratepayers’ associations are necessarily a better option in terms of governance. I am not convinced that they know everything that has to do with local government.”
She said a lot of ratepayers’ associations had prejudices with regard to informal settlements.
She said these associations would have to say how they plan to also represent people they believe are lowering the values of their properties. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
New political party adds to poll choice in Eastern Cape
Residents of Corana administrative area near Mthatha have formed the United Party, which is set to field candidates in 10 wards.
The party is in the process of registering with the Electoral Commission.
United Party chairman Thembinkosi Matyholo said they had heard many promises from those in power relating to houses, jobs and food parcels but “nothing ever materialised”.
The decision to contest the elections was taken amid allegations that desperate youth were overlooked for work in a roads project in the community.
“We are going to increase our membership and contest elections in other areas besides Nyandeni and King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD). We will focus on local government elections for now.”
The United Party joins the Mthatha Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association which, after failed talks with KSD Municipality, decided to stand for next year’s local government elections.
The association will also contest elections in the OR Tambo district and KSD. The United Party will also have ward councillor candidates in KSD’s Mqanduli.
The Daily Dispatch has also reported that traditional leaders threatened to field their own candidates in the upcoming local government elections.
This was announced by Contralesa president Chief Setlamorago Thobejane during its recent elective conference in Mthatha.
In Sterkspruit the Sterkspruit Civic Association will also be contesting elections for the first time next year. The association has vowed to take over Senqu municipality.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said he had not been informed about the grievances of Corana community members.
“It would be surprising that there is a company operating in an area where our people should be beneficiaries but they are not.
“It would be unfortunate if that is true. However, that cannot be used as an excuse by people to take the decision of contesting the elections.
“But as the ruling party we must follow up on legitimate concerns. I do not know what is happening there specifically but those are matters that we will attend to when they are raised.”
Mabuyane said he would look into the Nyandeni situation.
Political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni said the new parties would not win councils, but their candidates would be the bargaining members who “could find themselves on mayoral committees”.
He said the smaller parties were there to spoil the party for bigger political parties who might need to entice them to side with them.
Political analyst and cultural expert Nomboniso Gasa said ratepayers’ associations and traditional leaders were meant to be non-partisan.
“Traditional leaders are supposed to be above party politics. Even if they have political affiliation of their own they should be above party politics,” Gasa said. “What the president of Contralesa has done is to throw traditional leaders into the fray of political contestation…it is a very dangerous fray.”
On ratepayers’ associations, Gasa said contesting elections would render them “vulnerable to partisan politics”.
“I am not convinced that ratepayers’ associations are necessarily a better option in terms of governance. I am not convinced that they know everything that has to do with local government.”
She said a lot of ratepayers’ associations had prejudices with regard to informal settlements.
She said these associations would have to say how they plan to also represent people they believe are lowering the values of their properties. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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