KwaZulu-Natal raring to in August 3 poll

ALANA BARANOV

ALANA BARANOV

A big focus is the so-called Indian vote which the DA has gradually whittled away from the ANC and which is increasingly up for grabs following the disarray of the Minority Front since the passing of Amichand Rajbansi. As for the EFF, party heavyweights have been spending considerable time in the province, where the party hopes to take advantage of divisions within the ANC.

Some of the candidates standing in the key wards of Ward 27, Ward 35 and Ward 36:

Ward 27

Ward 27 encompasses Morningside, Musgrave and Greyville. The current ward councillor is the DA deputy leader of the eThekwini caucus, Martin Meyer, running for his second term. “Ward 27 is a wonderful, multicultural, eclectic ward, and that comes with its joys and challenges”, Meyer says. The issues that he will continue to focus on include service delivery; the current haphazard approach to town planning; the ongoing challenge of noise pollution in the area; and the menace of derelict buildings in the ward. 

The ANC candidate is Mahmood Amra, who unfortunately was unavailable for comment. Bheki Ntuli, ANC regional secretary, said that as the governing party in the municipality, the party would ensure a commitment from its councillors who to sign an ANC code of conduct against corruption. “Development is our focus and we hope to make our municipality the best in the country.”

The IFP has Bongumusa Zondo as its candidate, while the EFF and the ACDP have councilors Pinky Mkhize and Wayne Maxim Thring standing for election respectively.

Ward 35

Ward 35 encompasses Umhlanga, La Lucia, Glenashley, Prestondale, Gateway and Somerset Park. The DA councillor in the area since 2009 is Heinz de Boer, a former journalist. He says the ward is one of the most affluent in the country and yet its issues are diverse. He remains focused on managing the developmental challenges that arise where affluent residential areas border massive commercial and business zones.

“We are also actively campaigning against a proposed R27 million tidal pool that the city wants to build on Umhlanga beach, wanting that money to rather be spent on other pressing infrastructure projects.”

The ANC candidate for Ward 35 is Allison Govender, who has lived in the area for over 16 years. Although a first-time candidate, Govender has years of experience working in election campaigns. He promises to continue the work he has already begun by ridding the ward of informal settlements; dealing with safety issues; and transforming the community through opportunities for the unemployed.

He maintains that supporting a candidate from the party with the largest representation in the country means that this ward will be opened up to packaged projects which draw funding from the provincial and national budgets. “I want to be actively involved on a day-to-day basis to engage our ward.”

The ACDP councillor candidate is Sandra Joan Hansrajh, while Shanti Deepchand and Noorharpersadh Iyir are standing for the EFF and IFP respectively.

Ward 36

Ward 36 comprises the suburbs of Durban North, Umgeni Park, Athlone, Prospect Hall, Beachwood and Parkhill. It has been served by DA councillor Shaun Ryley for the past two years. A 27-year-old with a background in international relations, Ryley vows to continue to fight on behalf of his residents for visible policing; to minimise rates and tariff increases; protect and grow the tourist industry and ensure infrastructure development and maintenance.

The ANC candidate is Beverley Mothlabani while the IFP candidate is Noorharpersadh Iyir. The ACDP have Joanne Beverley Hathrill standing and the EFF, Malusi Lushozi.

The local Jewish community is gearing up to make their vote count in the elections. “Why is it important for us as young Jewish South Africans to activate our right to vote on August 3? Well simply because we can,” remarks Durbanite Talia Feigenbaum.

“We get to choose who our mayors and councillors are for the upcoming term, something that many of our very own grandparents and great-grandparents lost the right to do in the period preceding the Shoah, right before they lost their right to life.

“The ability to vote is something that we should never take for granted.”

Cookie Isaacs says: “I believe in active citizenry and exercising one’s vote is one of the most basic and important acts of expressing this responsibility. Our city councils are the executors of service delivery – so particularly in local elections – our vote can make a difference in the quality of our daily lives.”

Warren Shapiro, also a member of the local community, says he will be voting for councillors who will attend to the issues in his area but who will also work to change the composition of the council and ensure that the money that residents pay is being distributed better.

* For more information about the upcoming local elections, including where to vote at your nearest station, visit the IEC website at www.elections.org.za