DA’s Twigg uses social media to campaign
ON his Facebook page DA Ward 7 councillor Grant Twigg wants the world, particularly his party’s delegates for the upcoming Cape Town Metro annual meeting, to know that he’s the “ONE”.
A video featuring the soundtrack of the popular DJ Khaled song introduces Twigg in a similar manner as boxers entering the ring. But instead of sporting his boxing gloves, Twigg is lobbying to become the next chairperson of the the DA’s largest region in the Western Cape, the Cape Metro.
He is hoping to unseat incumbent Shaun August, who has been in the position since 2014 when his predecessor Grant Pascoe in a shock move defected to the ANC before that year’s general elections.
Twigg was unavailable for comment yesterday, but has received an endorsement from former human settlements Mayco member Tandeka Gqada, who is now a Member of Parliament.
Gqada is also hoping to become one of the three deputy chairpersons when the DA’s delegates meet on September 16 to elect a new leadership in the Cape Metro.
Whoever wins that contest would possibly be in the pole position to replace mayor Patricia de Lille, who is likely to bow out of politics when her term expires in 2021 when she will be 70.
Earlier this year De Lille resigned as Western Cape leader, prompting a contest which will play itself out in October with acting leader Bonginkosi Madikizela, a close ally of Premier Helen Zille, the front-runner to beat a motley crew of challengers that includes perennial runner-up Lennit Max.
“My campaign is strong, I’m feeling very, very good. There are 10 positions on the regional executive – chairperson, three deputy chairpersons, secretary, treasurer and four additional members,” said August.
A former prison warder, August got his start in politics with the Independent Democrats and joined the DA when that party was dissolved ahead of the 2014 elections.
“I was the operations manager for the (Cape Metro local government elections) campaign in 2016. Everyone knows my track record; I was the captain of the ship and we delivered,” said August.
He is seen as a close ally of De Lille.