ACDP has nine candidates for metro

THE African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) is fielding nine candidates in Nelson Mandela Bay’s 60 wards in the August 3 local government elections.

The party, which won one out of the council’s 120 seats in 2011, is hoping to gain more votes in five weeks’ time.

Lone ACDP councillor Marlon Booysen has been on sick leave for more than a year after his home was torched by protesting residents in Uitenhage.

The party’s ward candidates are Lance Grootboom, Lundi Timakwe, Marianne Lotter, Lucian Forlee, Fernando Kayser, John Stone, Kirsten Rooi and Richard White.

Lotter, who spoke on behalf of the nine candidates, said they would be appealing to voters’ Christian moral conscience.

“This was no easy feat, but the ward [candidates] are registered at the IEC and are gaining momentum through speaking appointments, pamphlet distribution and just speaking to people in general,” she said.

“The candidates are highly skilled and have been involved in many [fields] in the city, from fundraising projects to ministries, radio, drug awareness and community projects.

“They are dedicated to services being delivered, have a vision for a strong, healthy and prosperous city, and are committed to seeing genuine change and renewal in our city that is modelled on value-based norms like integrity, justice, honesty and respect.

“A society that fails to keep healthy families will produce a next generation of brokenness which, in turn, will produce weak leaders.

“[It] also believes that our children, who cannot speak for themselves, have been targeted from every direction – if it’s not abortion, it’s drugs, and so the list goes on.

“We are calling on every Christian in our city to vote for their Christian morals,” she said.