Voters can change

MOKOPANE - The DA in Mokopane is ecstatic over its victory in ward 31. Not only does this mean the DA now holds both the business and residential seats in Mokopane Proper, it is also a good show of confidence by voters from RDP extensions 19 and 20 – former ANC strongholds.
“This is bigger than I am. Its bigger than the DA. One has to concede that there has been Divine intervention for a former ANC-ward to swing to a DA-ward in such a dramatic way only five months after the ANC comfortably won the ward in the May municipal elections,” said newly-elected DA Councillor, Korny Dekker, about his victory.
In May, the ANC won the ward with more than 500 votes, but was forced to withdraw its councillor as he had a career in education. Educators are not allowed to actively participate in politics.
Right up to election day, the ANC was confident that it would again win the by-election. The DA, however attracted far more votes than it did during the May municipal elections and won the by-election with 85 votes.
“As councillor I hope to work closely and positively with my fellow councillors, even the opposition, and the municipal management,” says Dekker.
He views the victory as an opportunity to effect positive outcomes from within the town’s leadership echelons, not through fighting, but through cooperation.

The provincial DA leader, Desiree van der Walt congratulated Dekker on his victory. “The seat in Mogalakwena was won by the ANC in the Local Government Elections. This is the second ward the DA took away from the ANC in a by-election, it is the 6th ward that we took from the ANC since the Local Government Elections. This victory is a demonstration that more and more people are choosing the DA. This victory shows that people are ready for change,” she said in a press statement.

Dekker also thanked the DA members from all over the country who came to assist him and the local team during the elections. “We had 380 people from all over South Africa assisting at the various polling stations,” he said.