Voters' confidence in the DA's leadership ability and service delivery since 2011 was put to the test as the ward became vacant following the resignation of former DA councillor Cynthia Papah. Voting started slowly with only 84 votes cast within the first hour and the DA pocketing 63 per cent of them.
Before entering the voting station, voters were invited to tick off their names at one of the four political parties' register tables, giving each party a fair indication of their candidate's measure of support. This attendance register was updated every hour.
The four candidates were John Saayman of the African National Congress (ANC), Clareen Remas of the DA, John Bruinders of the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa) and Sophia Tool of the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI).
At 15:00 the total amount of votes increased by 1 111 to 1 195. At that stage the DA was still leading with 58 per cent of the promised votes. The ANC (12) and PBI (14) were head to head, with Icosa managing only 8 per cent of the votes. Only 2 per cent of the voters at that stage ignored the political parties' register tables and walked right through to cast their vote, keeping the four candidates in the dark.
In 2011 the DA managed to convince 43,03 per cent (1 075) of the voters to support the party. The PBI got 30,14 per cent (753), the ANC 16,97 per cent (424) and Icosa 1,92 per cent (48) of the votes. Seventeen candidates stood in Ward 14 during the local government election in 2011.
From his home a curious George Volkwyn kept a watchful eye on the voting activities at the Pacaltsdorp Community Hall. Photos: Christo Vermaak
ARTICLE: CHRISTO VERMAAK, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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