GEORGE POLITICAL NEWS - A by-election in Ward 18 will take place next week Wednesday, 10 April, less than a month before the national and provincial elections. The residential areas affected include a portion of Denneoord and Bergsig, Eden, Genevafontein and Loerie Park.
With the recent resignation of the previous DA Ward Councillor Jannie van der Westhuizen, it will be the second by-election in this ward in the span of a year. This time round Donovan Gultig will be representing the DA.
Traditionally the DA enjoys a stronghold in Ward 18. In a surprise move, premier Helen Zille met with residents at the Dutch Reformed Church in Denneoord last night. It is uncommon for a party leader of this stature to canvas for a by-election.
A former DA ward councillor for this ward, Gert Niehaus, will be representing the ACDP for the by-election next Wednesday. Other parties who will be contesting include the FF Plus with their candidate Gert van Niekerk, who currently serves on the George Council; the ANC's Saziso Khwitshana and Hein Scheepers of the EFF.
Voting stations at the Moth Hall and Dutch Reformed Church Denneoord will be open from 07:00 to 21:00.
The DA's regional chairperson, Jaco Londt, said the party is excited about both by-elections in the Southern Cape on 10 April.
"With the one in Hessequa we stand an excellent chance to win an ANC ward for the first time ever. In the one in George we are defending a strong DA ward. These by-elections are the ideal opportunity to send a message to the rest of the province and country regarding what should happen shortly thereafter in May," said Londt.
Gert Niehaus (ACDP)
ACDP Gert Niehaus
Ek en my gesin is al 26 jaar inwoners van ons pragtige dorp en het twee suksesvolle besighede in George.
Ek was lank voorsitter van die George sektor 2 polisieforum en het beide Denneoord- en Bergsig-buurtwag begin. Vir vyf jaar het ek op wyk 18 se wykskomitee gedien en vir ‘n verdere ses jaar was ek wyk 18 se raadslid.
Ek het ook een jaar op George se burgemeesterskomitee gedien en was voorsitter van beplanning en ontwikkeling. Ek het ‘n BA-graad in sielkunde asook honneursgraad in geografie (stedelike beplanning en ontwikkeling) aan Universiteit Stellenbosch verwerf. Verder het ek ook ‘n diploma in teologie.
My passie is mense en om die gemeenskap te dien met integriteit en deursigtigheid en op ‘n manier wat voor God eerbaar en waardig is.
Met korrupsie uit die weg geruim en met doeltreffende aanstellings, kan belastings verminder word, dienslewering verbeter en armoede verlig word.
Saziso Khwitshana (ANC)
ANC: Saziso Khwitshana
Saziso Khwitshana was born in the Eastern Cape (EC) in a small town called Tsolo, where he attended his lower grades of schooling. He matriculated in 2011 at Orlando West Secondary School in Johannesburg and pursued a National Diploma in Agricultural Management at the NMU George Campus, which he completed last year.
His politics in the ANC and its Youth League started back in his hometown during a gap year after school. In George he joined the South African Student Congress (Sasco) and in 2016 he was elected unopposed as the regional treasurer of the Western region of Sasco in the EC. He also served in the ANC Youth League as the secretary of George Campus branch.
His vision as councillor is to realise a fair and just society and to ensure equity among all. He wishes to champion transparency in government departments and the municipality.
Donovan Gultig (DA).
DA: Donovan Gultig
Gultig is an IT specialist who obtained his qualification in London where he lived for three years. He met his wife Marelna while studying there.
Donovan's mantra is: "If you want South Africa to get better, you need to become involved with organisations in your area". He is a board member of the Dutch Reformed Church in Blanco, Meals on Wheels and the George Police Station CPF. Furthermore he serves as a member of the Ward 26 ward committee.
Donovan became part of the DA branch structure in 2017. Here he actively assisted Ward Councillor Jacquilique von Brandis with various projects in the ward and the constituency.
Donovan is passionate about safety and security, which will be one of his focus areas when he becomes the councillor. He is involved in the Sector 4 Police Forum, the community police forum and the Heather Park Neighbourhood Watch.
Gert van Niekerk
VF Plus: Gert van Niekerk
Ek is die enigste van die kandidate wat binne wyk 18 woonagtig is. Ek is welbekend aan die meeste inwoners van die wyk en die vele uitdagings wat wyk 18 in die gesig staar. Die afgelope jaar, sedert die vorige tussenverkiesing, was ? goeie toets om die waarde van ? wykskandidaat wat nie in wyk 18 woonagtig was nie te bepaal.
Die agteruitgaan van paaie in wyk 18, waterpype wat aanhoudend bars, straatligte wat of dae aaneen brand of glad nie werk nie, die onopgeloste bobbejaanplaag, onkruid wat sypaadjies oorneem, die verwaarlosing van oop areas en parkies en straatnaamborde wat al die afgelope drie jaar desondanks klagtes nie vervang is nie is aanduidings van onbetrokkenheid en onvoldoende beplanning. Die nadelige effek van hoë digtheidbehuisingskemas op die waarde van bestaande eiendom is ? waarskynlikheid wat nie geïgnoreer kan word nie.
Hein Scheepers (EFF).
EFF: Hein Scheepers
Scheepers is a 27-year-old male born and bred in George. He is currently the EFF Southern Cape Regional Spokesperson, a tried and tested grassroots leader and active citizen committed to good governance. He was the candidate for Ward 18 in 2016 as well. He entered politics when he became involved in student activism and campus politics at the University of the Western Cape.
He is a qualified community development practitioner and has an educational background in African political economy and public management, which he completed at Unisa. He looks forward to serving the communities of George and more specifically to attend to the issues of the residents living in the ward he is contesting. Hein is dedicated to ensuring that seniors and youth are empowered to live in a peaceful and prosperous city.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
