/ 8 September 2005

ANC takes Western Cape ward from DA

The African National Congress won two wards and the Democratic Alliance one in Wednesday’s ward elections in the Western Cape, the ANC’s provincial spokesperson said on Thursday.

Lionel Adendorf said the ANC won the Witzenberg municipality, which was previously held by the DA.

The ANC’s Manie Poole got 392 votes (41%), the DA’s David Maine got 248 votes (26%) and Maria Afrika of the Independent Democrats got 316 votes (33%).

In the Athlone area, ward 48, late transport minister Dullah Omar’s wife, Farida Omar, won 2 047 votes (61%) and the DA’s Mogamat Davids won 38% of the vote.

The DA’s Glen Kleinsmith won in Bellville with 1 926 votes (55%), while Calvin Booysen of the ANC got 1 488 votes (43%).

Adendorf said the fact that the ANC won two of the Western Cape’s wards shows that voters in those areas have ”rejected the despicable race-based politics that the DA is involved in” and they have made it quite clear that race should not be used as an election tool.

”Based on these results, we are confident of a clear win in the upcoming municipal elections,” said Adendorf. — Sapa