Historic moments in the Eastern Cape:
DA congress and football set city abuzz
BLUE, gold and black. Parts of Nelson Mandela Bay will be draped in these colours at the weekend, when scores of DA members and Kaizer Chiefs fans descend on the city for what is, by all accounts, a historic moment.
Hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments, along the beachfront are fully booked with an influx of 1 400 DA delegates and thousands of soccer fans, who started trickling into the city from Wednesday.
The DA elective congress starts at the Boardwalk Convention Centre today and tomorrow, where a new federal leader will be elected to take over from outgoing Helen Zille.
Kaizer Chiefs are in the city to play Chippa United today in the clubs’ final fixture of the season at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Amakhosi, who have already won the league title, will receive the Premier Soccer League trophy after the match.
Hundreds of DA delegates took to social media yesterday, expressing their excitement at attending the congress. They posted pic- tures boarding buses from Johannesburg and other parts of the country.
Election hopefuls Mmusi Maimane, Wilmot James, Adrian Naidoo and Morgan Oliphant will know by 2pm tomorrow which of them will get the nod as new federal leader from the majority of the 1 425 voting delegates.
Vuvuzela-blaring, whistleblowing, drum-beating and dancing soccer fans have also made their way to the city for the historic clash between Chippa and Chiefs.
Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association chairwoman Shena Wilmot said yesterday business was booming.
“We are very full. It is chock-a-block. Any event – political, sporting or cultural – is always welcome because they are of great help to the metro.”
Protea Marine Hotel general manager Deleur Stander said: “I would say about 80% of the establishments are full.”
Courtyard Hotel general manager Eddie van Zyl said: “The events definitely help us because with the DA congress and the Chippa game our rooms are full. The events are awesome to have.”
The Boardwalk Hotel general manager, Brett Hoppe, was not available for comment.
Although the conference is essentially centred around the election of the DA’s national leadership, the opposition party’s constitution is expected to be amended, while it will also unveil its local government vision.
DA congress convener Greg Krumbock this week said they would pay tribute to Zille today.
Political scientist at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection Dr Mcebisi Ndletyana said the congress was historic beyond the party electing a black leader.
“Them having the congress there shows the significance and importance of the region and how much they want the region. They stand a good chance of being the majority party in the region because the difference between them and the ANC is a mere 9%.”
Meanwhile, Maimane told about 60 Daso-aligned students that the current generation’s struggle was achieving a quality education for all.
He was flanked by DA Eastern Cape leader, Bay mayoral candidate and federal chairman hopeful Athol Trollip and DA MP Yusuf Cassim.
The aim of the student gathering was to hand over a memorandum of demands to taxi associations, demanding affordable transport fees.