The GOOD Party has nominated four very strong candidates from the heart of their communities to contest local government by-elections in George on 11 November.
"These by-elections are very important," said GOOD National Organiser Shaun August MP. "They are an opportunity for us to showcase the calibre of people we want to represent us, to test our systems and begin to prepare for the main course: Local government elections next year."
The George Council has been embroiled in a series of scandals over the past 18 months. GOOD has submitted dossiers to the Office of the Public Protector relating to various issues in the municipality from a cover-up of electricity theft by councillors to the transfer of the town's savings, with a handsome commission for the councillor in charge of finance's son.
"George is at the tipping point," Shaun said. "Our people are saying they feel used by the DA. They have seen the corruption and can't carry on voting for people who believe some communities deserve better levels of service provision and dignity than others".
"The truth is that people who live in areas like Pacalstdorp, Rosedale, Conville and Parkdene are very low on the George Council's agenda. Don't take my word for it; go and have a look."
GOOD undertook an intensive candidate selection process. Among the most important criteria was that communities should be represented by their own people. George councillors should no longer come from Beaufort West or wherever else the DA has promised its people jobs.
Gammat Turner, 51, born in Borchards, has been a teacher at Conville Primary since 2011. He doesn't get much sleep, because at night he's involved with a community group that works alongside neighbourhood watches to create safer streets.
Gammat staan staan vir jeugprogramme en geriewe, en die bemagtiging en ontwikkeling van besighede in die wyk. En hy staan vir 'n gemeenskap wat oor bejaardes omgee – waar meisies en vroumense veilig op straat en in hulle huise voel.
"Ons grootste issue in Rosedale is diensaflewering," sê kandidaat, Charleen Titus. "Ons bel vir hulle om iets to raporteer, maar hulle bel nie terug nie. Dakke wat deur die wind beskadig is word nie herstel nie. Krane loop oor, maar hulle sê dis die gemeenskap se probleem. Hulle kan nie eers eenvoudige rampies bou by die voordeurs van inwoners in rolstoele. As ons klaar ge-vote het sien hulle nie meer vir ons nie."
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