GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Mmusi Maimane, the leader of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) political party, visited Graaff-Reinet and surrounding towns on Wednesday.
This was something of a whistle-stop tour, enabling the leader to visit, albeit briefly, all the main centres of the new Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality.
Maimane was accompanied by the DA’s mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Athol Trollip, and Samantha Jankovich, the DA’s mayoral candidate for the Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality.
The group was also accompanied by Annette Lovemore, MP, Constituency Leader for the Dr Beyers Naudé constituency and Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration.
The provincial battle bus, the campaign bus for Cllr Jankovich, and the vehicle Maimane’s entourage were travelling in made a triumphant and striking site as they passed through the Karoo.
The programme saw them kick off their trip with a visit to Steytlerville, followed by a stop in Willowmore and then on to Aberdeen. They arrived in Graaff-Reinet soon after 1pm where they made their way through the CDB, Caledon Street and the Taxi Rank, then to the Themba Street entrance to Vrygrond, Umasizakhe and from there to the Alex Laing Hall in Kroonvale.
The last stop for the day was the troubled town of Jansenville, the scene of much unrest in recent weeks.
Despite the cold but fortunately dry weather, the group was met by many enthusiastic supporters all along the route.
Trollip spoke briefly to the assembled crowds, as always impressing those present with his fluent command of English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
Both Samantha Jankovich and Annette Lovemore gave a few words, but the day really belonged to Mmusi Maimane.
He shook many hands, was introduced to candidates, and posed willingly for photos with supporters.
In his address, he commented on the differences he saw between Willowmore, under DA control, and the litter-strewn areas in the Camdeboo.
He appealed to the community members to vote on Election Day, promising good service delivery and no corruption from a DA government.
The provision of jobs was mentioned, along with the responsibility of councillors to work for the communities, and not for themselves.
He received a rousing reception in all areas, and certainly warmed the hearts of the many DA supporters who had turned out to hear him speak.
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