>> THE NEW VISION LOOK STARTS TODAY
,KASI 13 November 2015 | Boland
VISION Mbekweni/Khayamandi
Tel: 021 870 4600 | 021 887 2840 | bolandkasi@media24.com
DA supporters celebrate their victory in Fairyland.
WELLINGTON APPLIANCES 30 Versailles Street | Wellington | 021 864 1380 Top-of-the-range DEFY home appliances - straight from the showroom floor, at a fraction of the retail cost.
Fridges • Freezers • Microwaves Stoves (electrical/gas) • Ovens • Hobs Washing machines • Tumble driers and more
WE ALSO DO REPAIRS
X1QT7V5R-K2131115
PHOTO: LIEZL DAVIDS
BY-ELECTION RESULTS
Shock defeat for ANC in Boland
Zuko Gwada (left) shares a joke with the DA’s Thandi Mpambo-Sibhukwana and a DA supporter during the election.
The African National Congress (ANC) suffered a shock defeat in the Drakenstein ward, which has historically always been an ANC stronghold. A closely contested by-election took place in the Fairyland area of Paarl East on Wednesday after its councillor Sonwabo Lumko (Ward 14) had been ousted from the ANC and the community. Lumko made the headlines in the news on various occasions this year after the broad community began to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with him. He was, among other things, accused of stealing building material from a low-cost housing building site for his own use. There was also a general feeling among his constituents that Lumko did not have their concerns at heart and that he had just become a councillor to enrich himself. After an investigation into these allegations against Lumko by the ANC he was suspended. The final results showed that the DA won by a staggering 504 votes. In total they had 1 884 votes to the ANC’s 1 380. This also means that the DA’s support has increased by 11% while the ANC’s support decreased by 16%. Ward 14 in the Drakenstein Municipality was contested by the ANC’s Sangolomzi Ganandana, Jo-Ann de Wet of the Democratic Alliance and Anwar Romes of Die Volkstem van Suider-Afrika. Voter turn-out for a municipal by-election was very good, with 59% of the community casting their votes. In two other by-elections, which took place on Wednesday, the DA were also victorious in Bredasdorp and Oudtshoorn.
JoAnn de Wet casts her vote during Wednesday by-election in Ward 14. PHOTO: OTHO VAYO
Residents shut services down OTHO VAYO RESIDENTS of Fairyland and Siyahlala were at it again last week when they shut down all municipal services in their area. They seem divided on whether suspended former Ward 14 councillor Sonwabo Lumko should continue to assist the community at the Mbekweni Municipal offices or not. The area has been hit by a wave of protests since calls for the head of Lumko first emerged, after they accused him of corruption regarding
his house, which they said was built with bricks stolen from a housing project meant for the poor. Afterwards, his house was set alight and burnt to the ground. Subsequently, 19 people were arrested and charged with public violence and arson, and the trial is ongoing. After an investigation by the ANC, Lumko was suspended by the organisation and fired as ward councillor. But now, some in his constituency feel he still wields too much power, although he has been stripped of his
duties. According to Zoliswa Gcelu, 63, although Lumko was no longer in power in the area, he seems to pull the strings when it comes to delivery of essential services. “He is interfering in the work of the municipal offices,” Gcelu said. “Everytime people go to the Mbekweni office he is always there, and pokes his nose in the affairs of people.” Gcelu said they will stop all deliveries and dispatches in the area until such time as Lumko is nowhere near to the municipal offices.
Fairyland residents were allowed to collect only chronic medication from the local clinic. PHOTO: OTHO VAYO