Going for carte blanche in Blanco

GEORGE NEWS - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has successfully won back two of its three wards. The last of the three by-elections is on hand and it seems as if it's going to be the battle of all battle's.

Local political analysts this week likened the Wednesday 7 August by-election to a tough poker game, with political parties all hoping to play their cards right to walk away with Blanco, Ward 1.

The ward became vacant when former DA Councillor, Bevin Fortuin exchanged the political field for the SWD rugby field when he was appointed as trainer.

The ANC will try to dethrone the DA in Blanco, by putting their Eden ANC Chief Whip, George ANC councillor and George ANC sub-region Chairperson, Piet van der Hoven as candidate. Van der Hoven is already a proportional councillor and if he wins the ANC will put Mervin Olivier, an ANC political activist and former ANC councillor, back in the proportional hot seat. This was confirmed by the ANC Southern Cape region Secretary, Putco Mapitiza.

In an interesting move, the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa) put their trust for a win in Blanco on Niel Carelse. Carelse is a Khoi-Khoi descendant of Blanco. He's one of the indigenous rights activists who recently walked from the St Blaze caves to parliament in Cape Town as part of an awareness programme of indigenous rights. Earlier this year he also received an award from Ivan Meyer, Western Cape minister of sport and culture for the role he plays in promoting indigenous culture.

The DA will also be challenged by the George Independent Ratepayers Association (GIRA), who named Tobias (Koeloe) Koen as their candidate. The leader of the GIRA, Les Hayward has said on several occasions that the GIRA is convinced that they will be victorious in Blanco. Koen has 25 years experience in municipal management.

The DA also looked for somebody with municipal experience. They found, what they hope will be their top card, in the office of the speaker, Mercia Draghoender namely, Melvin Naik, the speaker's office manager.

The Naik/Van der Hoven/Carelse/Koen contest will start at 07:00 on Wednesday 7 August and end at 21:00. The results will be known at 23:00.