DA defiant in Emfuleni’s Ward 28, pledges to hold historic victory despite resistance - News24

The DA remains defiant in its bid to hold on to Ward 28 in Beverly Hills and neighbouring areas under the Emfuleni Local Municipality, despite attempts by some residents to derail the party’s campaign.

The ward, which the DA snatched from the ANC during by-elections on 27 May, remains among the most contested under the embattled municipality.

The victory marked a historic milestone as the DA’s first-ever win in a predominantly black ward historically dominated by the ANC.

Speaking to News24 on Tuesday, mayoral candidate Kingsol Chabalala said the ward played a significant role in the campaign. He claimed attempts to derail the DA’s campaign, including stopping members from patching potholes, were futile.

“After winning the ward, we received many complaints from residents about many things, including potholes. Our councillor, Maki Tshabalala, pleaded with the municipality to patch the potholes, especially those outside the Evaton police station. This is our ward where we show the community the difference [in] voting for the DA. Even if the municipality doesn’t come to the party, the DA will deliver services,” Chabalala said.

Chabalala claimed the municipality had done shoddy work, resulting in the DA using its own resources.

“The community is happy with our job of fixing roads. Last month, some unruly and violent residents stopped us from patching potholes. We sought assistance from the police, who intervened,” he said.

Chabalala said that as part of maintaining its new ward, the DA had donated Jojo tanks in Sonderwater and the Hollywood informal settlement.

“Tshabalala also contributed in Hollywood by providing solar lights after residents complained about crime at night. We are working across the ward. We want to protect this ward by giving people services to continue believing in us,” Chabalala said.

He pleaded with residents of the ward and the municipality to vote for the DA.

Resident Thato Metsing said he was a DA voter and believed in the party.

“Our roads are being fixed after many years of neglect. Some homes in Sonderwater have been struggling with a constant water supply for seven years until the DA won the ward. The party has also donated mobile toilets. In the 17 years I have lived in this ward, I am starting to see changes. I believe my vote is delivering results,” Metsing said.

He complained about collecting water from communal taps and said he was relieved by the donated Jojo tanks in Sonderwater.

“There is no water coming from taps in my yard. We are tired of living under poor conditions. We deserve better services from Emfuleni,” Metsing said.

Isaac Motaung said the ward had been ignored for many years until the DA won it.

“Some changes are happening. We can now access proof of address documents, something we didn’t know existed for decades. I hope voting for Tshabalala again will create job opportunities for the community to be able to pay for services,” Motaung said.

He added that some parties were claiming the good work done by the DA to garner votes.

“The DA is saving us from the misery and the darkness we lived under,” he said.

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