Siphelele Nketo
LACK of basic services such as water and poor road infrastructure in Ward 6 of the Umzimvubu Local Municipality are among the reasons behind the rural community’s decision to vote for the Democratic Alliance (DA) in last week’s local government elections.
The ANC had historically enjoyed strong support in the ward, containing 27 rural villages. But a significant shift was witnessed last Wednesday when the local community supported DA councillor candidate Noziphiwo Mantshongo with the hope that giving the DA a chance would bring change in the area.
Mantshongo, of the rural village of Sihlahleni in EmaXesibeni (Mount Ayliff), worked as a DA PR councillor in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality since 2011. At the same time, she also worked as a DA representative councillor in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality from 2021. She described the ward as one of the poorest areas in South Africa where villagers depend on social grants for a living. She said locals still depend on rivers to get water.
“Since the dawn of democracy, villagers have been struggling to get cellphone coverage due to poor network connectivity,” she said while highlighting community struggles in the ward. She said that even though electricity was connected to households a long time ago, new homes remain without electricity. She further highlighted the issue of school dropouts as a major concern that lead to the unemployment of young people.
Mantshongo will soon take an official oath as a new ward councillor for Ward 6 under Umzimvubu Local Municipality. She promised to deliver services to the community and also attend to community needs such as water, roads, electricity as well as revive community projects that failed to survive in the area. She said the area contains a forest that can be utilised to create job opportunities and community development. The DA’s victory in the ward was celebrated by Andrew Whitfield, the DA provincial leader in the Eastern Cape.
“Voters in the Eastern Cape have made it clear that the DA can deliver stability, effective service delivery and accountable leadership through a government that puts residents first and gets the Eastern Cape working for all,” said Whitfield in a statement, also mentioning that the DA has grown support across the Eastern Cape. The party will host an event next Monday, November 16, at the NdumNdum area in EmaXesibeni to celebrate winning Ward 6.
