Howieson’s Poort Dam on Monday 7 December. Howieson’s, which is much smaller than Settlers, Makhanda’s main western supply dam, is currently at 75%. Photo: Lynda Brotherton
Farmers celebrate rainfall – but the drought’s not over
By Sue Maclennan
With close to 60mm measured in and around Makhanda during the past three days, residents have asked whether the drought (and with it, some of the town’s water problems) may be over. Sunday’s downpour added to the rains of recent weeks made a difference – but the town is still short of water.
A resident in the Oatlands area measured 49mm in 35 minutes during a torrential downpour on Sunday 5 December and another 7.5mm Monday, bringing the total not far from 60mm.
DispatchLive reported on disaster in and around the city, with CBD businesses flooded as masses of litter washing down the town’s streams and gutters plugged stormwater drains and toppled trees blocked roads. Undertaker Ernie Cassels came to the rescue as the flood threatened to destroy homes at Sun City informal settlement.
The dams used to supply Makhanda west – Settlers and the smaller Howisonspoort dams – have been depleted by drought. They rely on rain falling in their catchment to fill via two rivers – the Kariega and the Palmiet rivers.
SmilingSouth asked farmers in those catchment areas what effect the recent rains have had on the water table.
“Fantastic rain!” said Richard Moss, of Mosslands west of Makhanda. “We had. 60mm in less than 60 minutes and the Kariega river is flowing for the first time since March 2015… which is beautiful.”
He said optimistically, “I think we can say the drought has broken, although we need a little more to fill the dams on the Kariega.”
Dale Howarth, Director of Pumba Game Reserve between Makhanda and Alicedale, was positive but more cautious.
“We got some lovely rain,” said Howarth. “Got 102mm for November and 90mm over the weekend, which got the water running. All our small stock dams are full and our two big lakes about half. The grass and veld is starting to recover nicely.”
But Howarth, who is the chairperson of the Central Albany Agricultural Association, said while good progress had been made, it was “a little bit early to say the drought is broken”.
The head of Rhodes University’s Geography Department Ian Meiklejohn also said it was too early to tell.
“We still have not reached average for this year,” Meiklejohn said.
“Also, the dams in the catchment area of Settlers’ Dam are not filling up. The rains were gorgeous, but limited (isolated). We need consistent rains for a while, before we can say the drought has been broken.
“In the meantime, I will simply celebrate the 40mm I measured in my garden for yesterday [Sunday] and 14mm for the day before.”
Dam levels on 7 December 2021, sourced by Makana Communication Officer Anele Mjekula, were Howieson’s Poort 75% and Settlers below 5%.
A resident in the Oatlands area measured 49mm in just over 35 minutes during a downpour in Makhanda on Sunday 5 December 2021. Photo suppliedHowieson’s Poort Dam on 26 November 2021. Photo: Sue MaclennanSettlers Dam on 26 November 2021. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Settlers Dam on 6 December 2021. Photo: Lynda BrothertonHowieson’s Poort Dam on Monday 7 December. Photo: Lynda Brotherton
SmilingSouth update on Makhanda water supply – December 2021
Dam levelson 7 December 2021: Howieson’s Poort – 75%; Settlers – below 5% (courtesy Makana Communications Office)
Background
Makhanda’s main western supply dams, Settlers and Howieson’s Poort, have depleted during the past six years, dropping as low as 5% and 10% respectively. At those levels, water can’t be extracted. The much smaller Slaaikraal dams, Jamieson and Milner, which were used to supplement the main supply likewise emptied.
The much smaller Howieson’s Poort Dam fills up quickly but also empties quickly. At times it has filled up enough to supply the Waainek Water Treatment Works, but for the past year, for most of the time, all of Makhanda has been supplied by the much bigger James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works (JKWTW) east of Makhanda.
JKWTW is in turn supplied by Glen Melville Dam – a reservoir filled artificially (not by rain) by water released from the Orange River via the Fish River tunnel.
The average daily water demand in Makhanda is 18 megalitres a day and JKWTW produces just over half that amount, 10ML a day. In order to allow all the intermediate supply reservoirs to fill up and both high-and low-lying areas in the gravity fed system to receive water equitably, the entire supply is opened to consumers only every second day.
Old infrastructure (water supply pipes) results in a lot of water being lost through leaks. Makana Municipality appointed contractors to begin the process of replacing old asbestos pipes in certain areas. That work began earlier this year.
Previous reasons for delays in the upgrade
The James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works is being upgraded to double its production to 20 megalitres a day. An October 2019 Infrastructure Portfolio Committee report outlines the history and status at the time:
Bosch Projects was appointed in September 2013 as the service provider, starting with various scoping and technical reports. In March 2015, the project cost approved by DWS was R101 850 000. With Makana Municipality being placed under administration, Amatola Water was appointed as the implementing agent. Amatola in turn (re-) appointed Bosch in August 2015.
Because of DWS funding requirements, the project is split into four phases:
Phase 1 – Augmentation of JKWTW (R65.6 million)
Phase 2 – Augmentation of JKWTW (R102.7m)
Phase 3 – Upgrading/ refurbishment of existing pump station (R31.5m)
Phase 4 – Upgrading existing water treatment works (R31.5m)
The upgrade was delayed when the subcontractor appointed to complete Phase 1, Winwater, proved unequal to the task. Their contract was terminated and they left the site in June 2017. In line with Amatola’s procurement policy, the next in line was appointed to replace them and so Mamlambo Construction stepped in and began work in September 2017.
According to their contract, the work would be completed within 40 weeks – July 2018. But administrative delays pushed that date further back to March 2019.
But equipment had to be imported and Makana’s water crisis meant it wasn’t possible to shut down the plant for more than eight hours a week. And so the revised completion date became June 2019.
However, the Department of Trade and Industry cancelled the Phase 2 tender because, according to the report, “local content declaration was not allowed to be adjusted or amended post award”. So it was re-advertised in September 2019.
After it was awarded, the revised completion date was September 2021.
Parliament noticed
Earlier this year, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) grilled officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation, implementing agent Amatola Water and main contractor Bosch Civils on the process involved in awarding the upgrade contracts, and the delays and cost increases that resulted.
SCOPA questioned the fact that during the 10 years since the project was initiated, the budget had risen from an initial R68 million to R237.5 million. DWS explained that this was because the scope of the project had changed during that time.
What’s happening now?
Asked about the current status of the JKWTW upgrade, implementing agent Amatola Water said the new projected completion date is March 2022.
Nosisa Sogayise, Manager: Stakeholder and Communications, told SmilingSouth that Amatola Water had recently learnt that Mamlambo Construction was under new management. Responding to questions on Tuesday 7 December, Sogayise said Amatola had been giving the contractor assistance in its role as facilitator; however, this had not helped.
“The James Kleynhans project will not be finalized as per the planned date,” Sogayise said. “Amatola Water [has] learnt that the [company has] been sold and is currently under new management due to financial difficulties experienced by the contractor.
“The contractor had difficulties in procuring material for the project and to remunerate employees,” Sogayise said.
Makana referred queries about the project to Amatola Water, who referred specific questions about the contractor to Mamlambo Construction. That company in turn referred questions back to Makana. And so SmilingSouth has not yet been able to confirm the status of the contractor from Mamlambo themselves.
And what if it rains enough to fill the dams west of Makhanda?
The DA reported on a recent oversight visit to the Waainek Water Treatment Works, saying that the building was unsecured and that pumps and motors were missing.
Emergency services were still busy with mopping-up operations at 1.20pm Tuesday 7 December after a head-on collision on the N2 outside Makhanda that killed one person and left another critically injured. Two trucks were involved in the incident under the George Street (R67) offramp. In an earlier incident, one person was taken to hospital after a vehicle overturned on the N2 to Gqeberha, 35km from Makhanda.
One person died, one person was injured and a cargo of pineapples was scattered acrosss the N2 in a head-on collision between two trucks outside Makhanda this morning Tuesday 7 December 2021. Photo: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape
Spokesperson for the Department of Transport in the Eastern Cape, Unathi Binqose, said in the R67 offramp incident, one of the trucks had been carrying a full load of pineapples which were scattered across the road.
“The road was blocked and motorists travelling on the N2 from Gqeberha to East London were advised to use the R72 as an alternative route,” Binqose said.
At 1.20pm, Makana Traffic officers and other emergency personnel were still engaged in mopping-up operations.
The earlier incident occurred shortly after 6am Tuesday 7 December, around 35km from Makhanda on the N2 from Gqeberha.
Makana Traffic Chief Coenraad Hanekom said a heavy duty South African Breweries truck travelling on the N2 towards Makhanda had left the road and tip partially overturned.
Paramedics had treated a man on the scene and he was taken to hospital in Gqeberha.
Emergency services were still mopping up at 1.20pm on Tuesday 7 December. Photo: Edwin Sias
Less than R30 000 in value, and more than 30 years old is the kind of car you need to drive to qualify for the Jam Jar Challenge – a charity event organised by some Gqeberha friends to raise money for the Cheshire Homes.
It’s also an annual excuse for a group of men to behave incredibly badly.
Founded by Gqeberha entrepreneur Paul Engler in 2013, it started with an invitation to participate in a charity rally in KwaZulu-Natal.
“It didn’t happen and so I decided to do something in my home town,” he said.
With nine people in three cars, they set off on the first Jam Jar rally – an event that snowballed into the 30-car, 120-person event that it is now.
The Cheshire Homes, which cater for chronically physically disabled adults, is the rally’s charity of choice. Its route is along the rural backroads between Gqeberha, Makhanda and Port Alfred. In addition to donations of groceries or school clothes on the way, each team of four must complete a list of tasks, earning either points or penalties.
One of the less onerous tasks is stopping and buying a round of drinks at a local tavern, where they also braai.
The 30-plus-year-old vehicles break down a lot.
“We’ve had 13 so far,” Engler said on Saturday 13 November – Day 2 of the rally. “Last year we had 45 breakdowns in one day.”
Riaan Claasen of Gqeberha company Universal Equipment is on hand with two mechanics to see to the more complicated breakdowns.
The participants – friends, and friends of friends – come mostly from Gqeberha, but there were also teams from Durban and Gauteng. Asked how their trip had been so far, every group said “Awesome”.
They actually all did use the word, “awesome” eExcept for the apparently very out of it Hip-Ous, who answered, “We have absolutely no idea.”
Tax information for small businesses from the South African Revenue Service
#Your Tax Matters
We continue our focus on Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). This month, we are exploring the functionalities available for SMMEs on eFiling and how to register a representative.
Registering for eFiling
If you are not yet registered as an eFiler, you can register by:
Visiting the SARS eFiling website www.sarsefiling.co.za and clicking on REGISTER; or
Downloading the MobiApp and tapping on REGISTER
As a registered taxpayer, you can sign up to use the SARS eFiling service, which allows you not only to file a return, make payments to SARS or request a tax clearance certificate, but also gives you access to many other benefits via an electronic platform.
For further guidance, please watch the SARS TV on YouTube.
eFiling Service Offerings available to SMMEs
The following services and functionalities are available on eFiling:
Enquire on the outstanding debt and make a payment
Enquire on the outstanding returns
Request your Tax Compliance Status
Notice of Registration
Filing your Income Tax Return
Update personal details (including bank details)
Request Statement of Account
Register for Income Tax
Submission of Supporting Documents for an audit case
Lodge a Dispute Tax Product Registration (incl. Tax Number Registration)
Tax Directive Management
Lodge a complaint
Refund status
Audit status
Username Retrieval and Password Reset
Registered Representative
Registering a representative
A registered representative is a person who is appointed with full rights to act on behalf of another legal entity (e.g. Companies/Company director, Trust/Trustee etc). A registered representative can set up an eFiling profile of the company, and has full rights to act on behalf of the company.
Requirements:
One official representative must be appointed to represent the company on all tax products registered with SARS.
Registered representatives must be registered with SARS.
Individuals, in a practitioner capacity, are not permitted to be registered representatives.
Registration Process and Tax Type Activation
Supporting documents needed for registration to become a registered representative of a company:
Certificate of Incorporation / Registration (CoR14.1)
Letter of authority signed by a Director or a Board resolution approving appointment (not older than 3 months).
Copy of a valid identity document or drivers licence/ Passport or temporary ID of representative.
Selfie or image of representative holding his/her identity document with note that reads “Update my details”.
Proof of residential address, not older than 3 months, of the representative.
Note: Turnaround time for registration is 21 working days, provided all required documents were submitted.
Common errors that you should avoid because they can delay the updating of the registered representative:
Registration documents not signed.
Selfie of representative holding his/her identity document not attached.
Letter of appointment not signed by directors/members etc.
Practitioners should not apply to be the registered representative.
Submitted documents not legible.
Company name or registration number differs from attached documents.
What’s new: Enhanced Notice of Registration functionality
The Notice of Registration functionality on eFiling was enhanced. The current Notice of Registration functionality for PIT and VAT has now been extended to include CIT, PAYE and Trusts. eFilers can now access their Notices of Registration for all tax types online by following these easy steps:
Step 3:Click SARS Registered details on the side menu
Step 4: Select Notice of Registration
Step 5: Select the relevant tax type: VAT or CIT or PAYE or Trusts
Regional News
Taxpayers are reminded that the Filing Season for Individuals ends on 23 November 2021. If you have received an auto-assessment SMS from SARS, you need to either accept the auto-assessment, or edit it by filing a tax return. If you fail to do so, an estimated assessment based on the data at our disposal will be issued by SARS. Any tax return filed after 23 November 2021 will be subject to a penalty for late submission.
Don’t forget, if you want to visit a SARS branch, you need to make a booking. You can call 0800 00 7277 and choose the “0” (zero) option, or SMS 47277 with the word “Booking” followed by a space then your ID number/Passport number/ Asylum Seeker number.
This column is supplied by the South African Revenue Service and is published unaltered.
Staff joined students in a march from Eastcape Midlands College in St Aidan’s Avenue to a candlelight vigil for Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang
‘This was a child of your own town,’ Makhanda leaders told
By Sue Maclennan
A double burial in Makhanda last Saturday marked three weeks of anguish since Eastcape Midlands College (EMC) student Anele Kampu was found dead in her boyfriend’s room. Her father, Zalisile Kampu, died a week after hearing of his daughter’s death and they were buried side by side at Mayfield Cemetery last weekend. Fellow students and staff marched with the family through town in a protest against gender based violence and gathered in a moving tribute at Fingo Square on Friday 5 November.
Makhanda student Anele Anita Kampu was enrolled in her second year of a National Certificate in Vocational Tourism, Level 3, at Eastcape Midlands College (EMC) and around 300 students, staff members, family and friends gathered for the candlelight memorial at Fingo Square in Makhanda on the eve of the double funeral and burial. Tourism lecturer Wanda Makeleni was among the first to speak and he described Anele as colourful, vibrant and intelligent.
EMC Stakeholder Manager Mike Sideba, on behalf of the College, spoke of the terrible cost of her death – not only to the lives of her family, friends and fellow students, but to the town.
“The leadership of Makhanda is here and you should know that this college belongs to the community of Makhanda,” he said. “We have lost not only a daughter, sister and friend, but a potential developer of Makhanda.” Students were not only young people with dreams, families and futures, but valuable assets for the town and its future, Sideba said.
Makhanda born and raised, Anele attended Ntaba Maria Primary School and Kutliso Daniels Secondary School before enrolling at Eastcape Midlands College. Born in 2000, she was 21.
“The leadership of Makhanda must know that this was a child of your own town,” Sideba said.
His address followed a call by Makana councillor and ANC Makana Subregion Chairperson Mabhuti Matyumza to revive Men’s Forums, and for men to stand up and say, “not in our name”.
The EMC SRC’s Gender and Transformation Officer, Joleen Arries, said, “Anele Kampu was killed while she was working to achieve her dreams. It’s time to stand together against gender based violence and not allow another innocent life to be taken.”
Fellow Tourism student Asiphenati Ngesi delivered a moving poem.
“I am so broken,” she said afterwards.
But for the close to 300 gathered there, even those heartfelt words were cold comfort as they absorbed the terrible events of the past three weeks.
Around 50 members of staff and students had marched from EMC’s Makhanda campus in St Aidan’s Avenue to Fingo Square in Raglan Road, where others joined the moving tribute.
On Saturday 23 October, Anele’s lifeless body was found in her boyfriend’s M Street room. Anele’s father collapsed when he heard the news. A week later he died of a stroke.
Anele’s heartbroken mother, Nomonde, sobbed as tributes flowed for her daughter.
Speaking quietly at the edge of the gathering, Anele’s elder sister Bongiwe said, “My sister was kind and loving. She was a people’s person, so very humble. She was a sweet girl – she didn’t deserve what happened to her.
“Today, I wish this is the last time we are gathering for this. Over and over, we must mourn someone who has died because of gender based violence. And now it is my own sister.
“She didn’t deserve this.”
Police confirmed that a case of murder was opened on 23 October 2021 and Anele’s boyfriend was named as the only suspect.
“His mother went to her son’s outside room to fetch his washing. When she knocked and got no response, she opened the door,” said police spokesperson Sergeant Majola Nkohli.
In front of her lay Anele’s lifeless body. There were noticeable injuries on her upper body. She was declared dead on the scene and a case of murder was opened.
“But the suspect was nowhere to be found,” said Nkohli.
Six days later, on 29 October, the 22-year-old man handed himself in at Joza Police Station. His first court appearance was on 2 November. The next day he was granted bail of R1000.
“The case was postponed for further investigation and his next appearance is on 10 December,” Nkohli said.
Photos: Steven Lang
Photos: Sue Maclennan
Photo: Lithemba Busakwe
LEFT TO RIGHT, FROM THE TOP: 1_Eastcape Midlands College Student Liaison Officer Lithemba Busakwe addresses students and staff gathered in St Aidan’s Avenue for a march to a memorial service for EMC student Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 2_Students and staff set off from Eastcape Midlands College in St Aidan’s Avenue for a memorial for Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 3_Staff joined students in a march from Eastcape Midlands College in St Aidan’s Avenue to a candlelight vigil for Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 4_Mpho Kopeli, Lukhanyiso Cezula and Taonga Phiri were part of a Rhodes University SRC delegation that joined Eastcape Midlands College students and staff in a march from the EMC campus in St Aidan’s Avenue to a candlelight vigil for Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 5_Rhodes University SRC member Lindi Gqamana-Mngeni was part of a Rhodes University SRC delegation that joined Eastcape Midlands College students and staff in a march from the EMC campus in St Aidan’s Avenue to a candlelight vigil for Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 6_Staff joined students in a march from Eastcape Midlands College in St Aidan’s Avenue to a candlelight vigil for Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 7_Gideon Minyelela, Siya Silatsha, Sihle Japhela and Thembinkosi Ngqoyiya said it was painful for a young girl to pass away. They had come to show their support at a memorial for Eastcape Midlands College student Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 8_Student Liaison Officer Lithemba Busakwe leads Eastcape Midlands College staff and students in a march to a candlelight vigil for Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 9_Eastcape Midlands College student Anele Kampu’s family listen to tributes during a memorial ceremony for her at Fingo Square, Makhanda, on 5 November 2021. Anele’s mother, Nomonde, is seated in the centre. Photo: Steven Lang 10_Reverend Melikhaya Fiki was among the clergy at a memorial for Eastcape Midlands College student Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 11_Asiphenati Ngesi delivered a moving poem at a memorial for Eastcape Midlands College student Anele Kampu at Fingo Square, Makhanda, on 5 November 2021. Anele was Asiphenati’s second-year Tourism classmate. Photo: Steven Lang 12_Eastcape Midlands College Acting Campus Manager Nkululeko Magopeni reads a tribute to Anele Kampu during her memorial in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 13_Makana councillor and ANC Subregion Chairperson Mabhuti Matyumza speaks at a memorial service for Eastcape Midlands College student Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Steven Lang 14_Rhodes University SRC members Mpho Khopeli and Lindi Gqamana Mngeni light candles at a memorial service for Eastcape Midlands College student Anele Kampu in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Sue Maclennan 15_Nomonde Kampu holds a candle at a memorial service for her daughter, Anele Kampu, in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Sue Maclennan 16_Zalisile Kampu collapsed when he heard his daughter Anele had been found dead and a week later he died of a stroke. They were buried side by side at Mayfield Cemetery on Saturday 6 November 2021. Photo: Lithemba BusakweNomonde Kampu holds a candle at a memorial service for her daughter, Anele Kampu, in Fingo Square, Makhanda, on Friday 5 November 2021. Photo: Sue MaclennanZalisile Kampu collapsed when he heard his daughter Anele had been found dead and a week later he died of a stroke. They were buried side by side at Mayfield Cemetery on Saturday 6 November 2021. Photo: Lithemba Busakwe
Makana Independent New Deal (MIND) Makana has laid a charge of fraud at the Grahamstown Police Station after 27 votes cast for its candidate in Salem, Ward 13, allegedly went missing. The grouping of independent candidates is also challenging authorities to reinstate the missing 28th seat in the Makana Council.
Candidate Andrew Kirk said a MIND party agent had WhatsApped him results for the Salem Land Claim voting district soon after the ward and Council PR counting was completed: Kirk had attracted 27 ward votes and 15 Council PR votes.
The next count was for the District PR votes which MIND wasn’t contesting.
“Our agent wasn’t aware he had to stay until all the counting was complete and left, thinking their role was finished,” Kirk said.
But the results issued by the IEC shortly after midday on Wednesday reflected only the PR votes. The ward vote showed zero.
Coordinator Jock McConnachie has lodged a formal objection to the result.
“The basis of the objection is that the number of ward votes for MIND as declared (0) does not accord with the number of votes recorded at the count and as noted by MIND’s party agent and other party agents (27) but which result was not formally signed off due to an oversight/irregularity by the IEC official in charge and which has led to the declaration of an incorrect result in respect of the votes registered for MIND,” McConnachie wrote in a letter dated 3 November 2021. The letter was addressed to the Municipal Electoral Office via Municipal Manager Moppo Mene and Electoral Project Coordinator Vuyo Ponoshe.
McConnachie has also called for the reinstatement of a Council seat that went missing after the 2011 local government elections.
Won by an earlier iteration of MIND, the seat was occupied by a councillor who then crossed the floor to the ANC. When the party dissolved itself, the municipal manager at the time failed to declare a vacancy and so the 27-seat status quo has remained.
Now, McConnachie says the 2021 MIND grouping would have a ward seat (Ward 13) if the votes at Salem had been correctly recorded and the 28th seat had been reinstated.
“MIND objects to the allocation of only 27 seats (14 ward + 13 PR) on the Makana Local Council whereas the correct allocation should be 28 seats (14 ward + 14 PR) and MIND believes that if the votes cast for MIND at the Salem Land Club Voting District 10330052 are correctly calculated and declared and if the correct number of 28 seats is allocated on the Makana Local Council, it will result in the additional seat being allocated to MIND.”
Police confirmed that a case had been opened at the Grahamstown Police Station.
“The SAPS can confirm that a case of fraud was opened on Wednesday, 3 November 2021, after the allegation of vote rigging at the Salem voting district in Makana,” national spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said. “At this stage, there have been no arrests and the investigation is continuing.”
The IEC’s Eastern Cape spokesperson Julie Stanworth said she would be able to respond to the query on Monday.
An analysis of vote counts in the Makana Municipality reveals at least three remarkable changes in the state of local politics.
The first, and arguably most extraordinary change, is the advent of the Makana Citizens Front (MCF) and its powerful surge throughout the 14 wards of the municipal area.
Local observers believed the MCF could do well in traditional DA strongholds and this indeed proved the case. The MCF had its highest levels of support in the only two wards where the DA candidates won – Wards 4 and 8.
In Ward 4 the MCF secured 31,62% and in Ward 8 it received 28,22% of votes. The MCF clearly swallowed large chunks of DA support and put historically safe seats in jeopardy.
It was not anticipated however, how well the MCF would do in traditional ANC wards. In some of these seemingly impregnable wards, the ANC saw its support plummet from the heights of 70-80% in previous elections to 50-60% levels in 2021.
Previously, if the ANC showed any vulnerability in its traditional strongholds, it feared populist discontent leaning towards the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The MCF surge effectively held the EFF in check.
The MCF’s even spread of support is astonishing as the only areas where the new kid on the block did not put in a significant showing was in the rural wards.
The second recalibration of power structures in Makana is a result of the precipitous drop in the number of people who voted for the ANC. The incumbent party still won 11 of the 14 wards and secured enough votes to add three more proportional representation (PR) seats to its caucus of Councillors – but now its majority in Council is as thin as it gets.
The ANC will have 14 out of 27 Councillors when Council reconvenes and will have to think carefully before putting any matters to the vote. Previously the ANC with twenty seats enjoyed a sizeable majority in Council and could comfortably disregard any objections from the opposition.
The third remarkable feature of Monday’s election was the massive drop in the number of DA voters. It lost support in all wards in Makana. In some wards the nosedives were shocking: in Ward 12 it crashed 51,45 percentage points and in ward 4 the loss was 28,82 points.
In large areas of Makana, the DA has ceased to be relevant to voters. The MCF took support from all parties, but it hurt the DA the most.
Numbers, comment and short analysis of ward by ward final results in the 1 November 2021 local government election in Makhanda shared here, with permission, from Steven Lang’s Twitter feed @PoliticalBent
#ElectionResults2021 for Ward 5 in #Makana Municipality the ANC a massive win. Interesting result is that MIND got more support than the EFF and DA combined
WARD 5 ANC CANDIDATE: Gcobisa Mene
(MCF: Zongezile Tsotsa; MIND: Chris Bower; DA: Mohammed Ullah; EFF: Nolutando Buwa)
#MakanaWard 6#ElectionResults2021 The ANC won the ward with almost precisely the same result that it had in 2016. The MCF gobbled up most of the votes cast for an independent in 2016. The EFF took a few extra votes.
In #MakanaWard 7 the ANC dropped almost 20 percentage points in its support and the DA lost about half its support. The MCF notched up yet another big gain.
WARD 7 ANC CANDIDATE: Lunga Masinda
(MCF: Xolelwa DOnyeli; EFF: Anele Gacula; DA: Xolani Madyo)
#ElectionResults2021 in #MakanaWard 8 confirm the DA’s Cary Clark as Councillor to replace B Jackson of the same party. The MCF’s Nuthu Blow came in 2nd with a creditable 28%
Ward 7 in the Makana Municipality was the first ward to release full results. It has a registered population of 1,525 voters – but only 598 turned out to vote. This means that the voter turnout for the ward was just a shade under 40%.
#ElectionResults2021 in #MakanaWard 9 – The ANC lost a huge part of its support to the MCF but it still won the ward by a comfortable margin. This is one of the few wards where the EFF lost support too.
WARD 9 ANC CANDIDATE: Thozamile Yaka
(EFF: Anelisa Bentele; MCF: Zwelethemba Yaka; DA: Luvuyo Sizani)
#ElectionResults2021 in #MakanaWard 10 – The ANC won the seat even though it lost a large proportion of its support. The MCF took almost a quarter of the votes in the ward and the DA has become almost irrelevant in the ward.
WARD 10 ANC CANDIDATE: Zodwa Cetu
(MCF: Mxolisi Ntshiba; EFF: Lusanda Boma; DA: Xolani Madyo)
#ElectionResults2021 in #MakanaWard 11 show the ANC holding on to a reduced majority while the MCF made significant inroads into the share of other parties.
WARD 11 ANC CANDIDATE: Sakhiwe Zono
(MCF: Thandisizwe Matebese; EFF: Thembela Gqasana; DA: Thandisizwe Dudu)
#ElectionResults2021 in #MakanaWard 12 dominated by Rhodes University produced a narrow victory for the ANC’s Mzobanzi Nkwentsha. The MCF and EFF candidates followed closely behind.
WARD 12 ANC CANDIDATE: Mzobansi Nkwentsha
(MCF: Xabisa Bodla; EFF: Thulani Tshabalala; DA: Tiego Thotse)
WARD 13 RESULTS (IEC RESULTS DASHBOARD)
WARD 13 ANC CANDIDATE: Wandisile Matina (MCF: Milo Geelbooi; DA: Brian Jackson)
#ElectionResults2021 from Ward 14 in #Makana show massive drop in support for the ANC and the DA. An independent candidate received almost a quarter of the votes.
#MakanaWard 14 #ElectionResults2021 The Independent Candidate, Vuyani Nesi won the Ward seat with 40,45% or 724 votes. The ANC had the most PR votes with 49,54 or 650 votes. Nesi received 721 votes in the Alicedale Town Hall voting district, No. 1004001 Reply
#Turnout figures for all wards in #Makana#ElectionResults2021 Ward 12 (students) had the lowest turnout while the largely rural Ward 14 had the highest percentage turnout in the municipality
SmilingSouth invited ward candidates contesting the 2021 Local Government Elections in Makana Municipality to respond to three questions and provide their manifesto. Parties/ entities, their abbreviations and links to their full manifestos (where applicable and available): African National Congress (ANC); African Transformation Movement (ATM); Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo); Democratic Alliance (DA); Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF); Independent (IND); Makana Citizens Front (MCF); Makana Independent New Deal (MIND); Patriotic Alliance (PA); Vryheidsfront-Plus (VFP). The questions: 1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent? 2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government? 3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years?
Candidates who haven’t responded are listed at the end. The order for each ward is alphabetical, according to surname.
WARD 14 READ RESPONSES FROM Siyabonga Bashe, Economic Freedom Fighters Theo Bruintjies, Democratic Alliance Andrew Kirk, Makana Independent New Deal Brendon Klaase, Patriotic Alliance Nosicelo Mnana-Kolweni, Makana Citizens Front Vuyani Nesi, Independent RESPONSES NOT YET RECEIVED Mkhuseli Antoni, African National Congress WILL NOT BE RESPONDING Deon Els, Vryheidsfront-Plus
SIYABONGA BASHE. EFF
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent? * Community – Provision of essential services such as health and safety. * Game reserves: To expand conservation and tourism * Farmers: To improve infrastructure development and create viable agricultural projects that will further contribute to youth development.
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government? * Community – health, clinic and ambulance , 24 hours service clinics, 24 hours service in Seven Fountains police station. * Game reserves: more activities ties to attract tourists, townships and village Tours. This will help to put the community on the map and create more jobs. * Farmers: make use of communal land, CPA make sure they distribute the land accordingly so that people can access to work the land especially the youth. Increase in education and more programs giving support to crèches, as well as the development of a green economy.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years? The incoming EFF councillor will be available 24/7 to all stakeholders and the activities happening in the ward from planning to execution and sustainability e.g monthly meetings.
THEO BRUINTJIES, DA
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent? * Build quality roads that can track investment into Alicedale because it’s tourism ward to boost the economy of the town * Invest in municipal infrastructure * Drinkable water in all our taps
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government? * As part of budgeting process, develop an annual roads maintenance plan that clearly identifies and prioritize road for upgrades and repairs * Establish a dialogue with rural communities to facilitate and implement rural road maintenance * Ensure a rapid turnaround of pothole repairs :72 hours from reporting to repair * Play to Alicedale’s strengths: – Railway line through Alicedale – Beyond Adventure – 5 star hotels at Shamwari – Pumba Partnerships with them for job opportunities and a development programme to provide technical skills for unemployed youth. * Identify problem areas eg sewers that overflow and make sure they get fixed. * Create a dedicated team in Alicedale to fix streetlights and mast lights. * Identify and prioritise dark areas. * Ensure our municipal fleet is capable of doing its job eg [TLB], bakkie and tractors. * Clamp down on cable theft. * Ensure monthly water quality testing and public reporting. * Implement a comprehensive water communication strategy. * Roll out a rain harvesting strategy for all municipal buildings and RDP housing. * Research and develop waste water recycling in Alicedale and other ward 14 areas for waste water treatment works. * Engage with EC Provincial government to develop and implement a regional water master plan to alleviate drought and water shortages.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years? * I will listen, action and report back on all issues to the residents * We will establish a listening forum in each ward, where residents Wil have the opportunity to present their concerns * We will also establish community communications groups to give municipal information * Quarterly report back sessions Wil be held in ward 14 * We will make sure all municipal public participation processes are conducted lawfully * The DA gets things done
ANDREW KIRK, MIND MIND has a general plan/manifesto for the whole of Makana and specific plans/manifestos for individual wards. Each of the individual ward plans/manifestos is consistent with MIND’s overall plan/manifesto.
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent?
The issues affecting one ward are mostly the same issues affecting other wards but the biggest single problem of Makana is the dysfunctionality of the municipality in almost every aspect of its operations. That issue cuts across all wards and cannot be approached on a ward-by-ward basis hence MIND’s slogan: “Let’s fix Makana.”
Wards 1, 13 & 14 are predominantly rural wards each with an urban component where most of the voters are concentrated, namely Ward 1 (Riebeeck-East; Hooggenoeg); Ward 13 (Vukani); Ward 14 (Alicedale). MIND’s candidates, ADRIAN FEBRUARY (Ward 1) and ANDREW KIRK (Wards 13&14) have determined the following focus areas: 1. Rural safety and security (SAPS response times, cameras & crime prevention, stock theft & poaching); Environment (waste management, preservation of protected areas, road reserves & road maintenance); Infrastructure & amenities (access to water, health care & social work, electricity/alternative energy). Job creation is another priority identified by the candidates. The priorities for the urban areas within Wards 1, 13 & 14 are they same as those identified for the other urban wards in Makana.
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government? Our municipality is effectively broken and it is questionable whether any of the mechanisms which ought to be available to councillors are presently available & working. That is why MIND’s first priority is to fix the municipality itself with a total overhaul of its operations and a staffing review to ensure competence and productivity.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years? Each MIND candidate has a track-record of voluntary service to the community. They are also standing in their personal capacity and are directly accountable to you the voter. That is your best guarantee that they will do the job you have elected them to do.
BRENDON KLAASE, PA
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent? * Housing * Youth development and Job Creation * Service Delivery
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government? I will make 100% sure [I am familiar with] the mechanisms and platforms available, so I use them to the best of my ability and make sure issues are sorted out.
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years? First I will make sure that my number is available to the community for them to reach me at any time, then I will make sure i have a healthy relationship with the communities and involve them as I cannot do it on my own but “WE” can do it together. My belief is that there is no “I can do it”, but “WE” can do it.
1 What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent? (a) Vacant buildings that should be utilised for youth centres, skills centres, internet cafes, such as Bushman Sands offices. (b) Transparency on all projects, contracts and financial transactions (c) Prioritise tarring road between Alicedale and Makhanda.
2 How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government? * Writing a letter to Department of Labour for assistance in utilising the vacant buildings so that we can have, SASSA, Home Affairs, Dep of Labour. In that way I will be creating better employment for the youth of the community and the aged who have to travel bad roads and pay a lot of money just to receive services from those departments. * Do investigation as to what happened to projects where millions were allocated and today none of those programmes are operational. Whoever is responsible for stealing the money that was meant for Alicedale development should account and take responsibility – in fact go and rot in jail. * Call monthly meetings for the community so that we can work together so that there can be accountability in decision making and public ownership.
3 How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next 5 years? * Set clear project objectives * Election of ward committee should be beneficial to community * Seek to understand before I am understood * Lead with integrity * Engage stakeholders and call in for regular meetings (effective communication)
1. What are the three most important issues for stakeholders based in the ward you hope to represent? Human Settlement, Water & Sanitation, Employment.
2. How do you plan to solve them using the mechanisms and platforms available to a councillor in local government? * Make sure that the municipality allocates land [and installs] infrastructure in order for Human Settlements to be able to build housing. Installation of boreholes for the underground water, because of the drought we are experiencing around the ward. Make sure that all the leaking taps and pipes are repaired at all times to save water. Blocked drains and sewers maintained to prevent health risks. * Provide skills development to all people irrespective of gender, age & race in order to have a sustainable job opportunity & self employment. Establish cooperatives in different kind of fields like construction, farming, entrepreneurship etc, in order for them to have their own income
3. How can stakeholders in this ward be sure that you will work in their interests for the next five years? I will always make sure that I report to them about the progress made according to the issues of interest. Implementation & accountability is the most critical way of communication with the stake holders
MANIFESTO OF WARD 14 INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE VUYANI NESI
1.BASIC SERVICE DELIVERY (a) Water& Sanitation – Provide access to clean water for consumption to all – Water to be supplied to all households through the taps on daily basis – Community to be informed in advance when there is gonna be a disruption in supplying of water – An alternative arrangements be made in cases when water won’t be supplied through taps, such as water delivery truck fill up water tanks that are put in strategic areas so that residence get water at all times- Make sure that all the leaking taps & blocked drainages are fixed, to save water & prevent health risks (b) Refuse removal. – Collection of refuse material or rubbish be done at least once per week. -Provide refuse bags to all households. -Abolish all the illegal dumping sites & make sure that legal sites are cleaned at least once per month for the cleanness of the areas where we live. If there are changes in the schedule, community will be informed in advance. Make sure that the tools of trade like vehicles are available so that such things are attendet to.(c) Electricity -Electrify or installation of electricity to all households especially those newly built RDP houses.All informal settlement householdsin our ward have access to electricity. Highmoust lights & street lights are in good condition at all times to prevent criminal activites, that is to be able to identify wrong doings in our respective areas.
2 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT Renovations of pre & post 1994 damaged houses are attendet to. Identification of a land be pegged & infrastructured for the building of new RDP houses, since it has been more than 20 years the building of houses took place in the ward.
3 GRAVE YARDS An alternative land be provided for the burial of deceised persons, since some of the burial places declared full.
4 EMPLOYMENT Provide the residents with necessary skills of their interest like construction, hospitality, entrepreneurship, farming etc, in order to prepare them for job opportunities. Make sure that the hiring of beneficiaries in the EPWP & CWP program are fair to all community members to benefit. Form cooperatives for people to create jobs for themselves. Embark in discussion with private companies around our areas to give our people first priority when there are job opportunities ( especially in game reserves & hospitality industries)
5 COMMUNITY HALLS Renovations of both the Transriviere & KwaNonzwakazi halls are attendet to,since it has been a long time when they where toched by angry protesters of municipal services ( speed up the process)
6 NATIONAL ROAD Tarring of the Alicedale to Grahamstown road be made, since it was said that, it is the second phase to the Alicedale to Port Elizabeth route.
7 ESSENTIAL SERVICES All essential services are provided to the community at all times, like Ambulance & Fire departments. Form CPF( active) to assist SAPS in crime prevention.Labour, Social Development, Justice, Home Affairs, SASSA & other government departments visit our areas at least once per month.
8 MUNICIPAL VACANCIES Make sure that all the municipal vacancies are occupied especially those of the deceased persons.
9 SPORT & RECREATION Sport facilities are maintained & kept in good conditions so that young people embark on activities, to avoid drug abuse and criminal activities especially during week ends. Make sure that parks are safe for kids to play after school & security personnel are hired to gaurd against vandalism of the assets in playground.
MKHUSELI ANTONI, ANC Response not yet received
DEON ELS, VFP Has indicated he will not be responding.
SmilingSouth 