Khayelitsha residents raise service concerns during Mantashe visit

ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe faced questions about local services during a campaign visit to Khayelitsha on Saturday, 3 October, as the party sought support ahead of the 4 November municipal elections.

EWN reported that residents in Site B pointed to potholes and stagnant water as they raised concerns during the walkabout. Mantashe greeted voters along one of the area’s busy roads.

Some people who spoke to him said they had become disillusioned with the ANC, according to the report. Residents also raised unemployment and community safety, while some said they did not plan to vote next month.

ANC Cape Town metro chairperson Ndithini Tyhido acknowledged problems facing the party. He said Mantashe’s visit was intended to encourage volunteers conducting door-to-door campaigning, EWN reported.

In a separate report on 19 September, EWN said the ANC had placed campaigner Banoyolo Yawa first on its candidate list, ahead of Tyhido, the party’s current opposition leader in the city council.

The DA had listed incumbent mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg as its leading three candidates. The party has controlled the metro for 20 years, EWN reported at the time.

The Electoral Commission said in its 16 September candidate-certification statement that 55 parties would contest Cape Town’s proportional-representation ballot. The number means the city’s PR ballot will use a double-column format.

The commission confirmed that municipal voting is scheduled for 4 November. Its statement put the national field at 136,790 certified candidates contesting 10,526 council seats across metropolitan, district and local municipalities.