Excitement and standing ovations as DA announces candidates

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance, Dr Ivan Meyer today, 28 August announced the Garden Route's mayoral candidates for the upcoming municipal elections.

Meyer unequivocally said that the DA, regardless of whether the municipal elections may be postponed due to Covid-19, is ready for the vote.

Candidates, following the announcement, briefly stated their mandates, but it is was clear that they spoke from one mouth in terms continuing to roll up their sleeves, not only to secure the advancement of the Western Province, but South Africa as a whole.

The candidates are as follows:

Knysna - Levael Davis,
Kannaland - Joslyn Johnson,
Bitou - Dave Swart,
Mossel Bay - Dirk Kotze,
Hessequa - Grant Riddles,
Oudtshoorn - Chris MacPherson, and
Memory Booysen - Garden Route District.

Levael Davis - Knysna

Joslyn Johnson - Kannaland

Dave Swart - Bitou

Dirk Kotze - Mossel Bay

Grant Riddles - Hessequa

Chris MacPherson - Oudtshoorn

Memory Booysen - Garden Route District

Meyer summarized the skills needed by an effective mayor.

"Mayors should have the big picture in mind, but also operational excellence. The things you talk about, you must be able to execute, with precision. Effecting change is vital. Things cannot remain the same. You must have flexibility. Understand the rules and the architecture, but remind yourself to be flexible."

Meyer continued, explaining that we are living in the so-called VUCA world.

VUCA is an acronym for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity.

"There is a lot of volatility. Mayors you must provide vision to counter this. As for uncertainty - there is a lot of it in South Africa. Give an understanding of the issues - this is your job. Where there is complexity, you must provide certainty. Where there is ambiguity, your job as a mayor is to provide agility. Agility is the ability to get the job done. And that's our slogan for the election - We get things done."

Candidates are seated in front (from left) Dave Swart, Joslyn Johnson, Gert MacPherson, Memory Booysen, Dir Kotze, Levael Davis and Grant Riddles. At the back, DA East Region secretary, Venolea Fortuin, Federal Chair, Dr Ivan Meyer, Regional Chair, Tertius Simmers. Photo: Cornelle Carstens