Election fever builds
As political parties that are going to contest the local government elections in Makana gear up for battle in August, it is important to note that the people ultimately have the biggest voice. Political parties may have a big role in electing candidates for their ward and proportional representation lists, but if the people are not happy with the final product they have the right to not only voice their concerns, but to also act on them.
In the past Makana has seen a fair number of independent candidates, but for the upcoming local government elections there seems to be a variety of independent candidates coming from different areas in the Makana community.
These are by no means people who have just cropped up from nowhere, a number of them come from the established political parties such as the ANC and DA in Makana.
Next week Grocott's Mail will explore what has caused the apparent spike in numbers of independent candidates in Makana.
The current Council of Makana Municipality consists of the ANC, DA and Cope. The ANC enjoys the majority of both ward and PR seats in the council followed by the DA and Cope which only has one PR seat.
The formation of the EFF in Makana, which will contest the upcoming elections will surely put a new spin on things come August 3.
Next week Grocott's Mail will also bring you the ANC's ward and PR lists, which will surely intensify the battle for key positions within the party heading up to the elections.
The ANC's national secretary Gwede Mantashe spent the whole of yesterday criss-crossing Makana, talking to residents who turned up in large numbers during the party's rally at the Extension 6 Indoor Sports Centre.
Other ANC big guns such as former Buffalo City mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, former Premier Noxolo Kiviet, Regional Secretary Scara Njadayi and Makana Municipality executive mayor Nomhle Gaga, ANC sub-regional chairperson Mabhuti Matyumza. Mantashe was also scheduled to visit a popular local drinking hole during his visit to the City of Saints.
The Carlisle Bridge community that marched in town this week are frustrated at being let down by the government and the agencies meant to serve them.
From handing over an entire farm to an employee, to planning a farming project for women in the area to own and manage, to offering to build a new school and building comfortable, decent accommodation for employees, there is no doubt that the land owners in the Carlisle Bridge area want to do right by their neighbours.
Where things aren't working is that each party involved wants to do it on their own terms: the farm dwellers, the farmers and the government.
With the August elections on the way, there are more agendas thrown into the mix.