Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Samantha Graham explained more about the process that has put her on the way to Parliament later this year.

"The nomination process for the DA is very strenuous. Candidates' applications go to a Screening Committee that ensures that the required criteria are met. Online assessments, including writing a press release or speech on a given topic, form part of the scoring."

During this process, Cllr Graham was fighting other battles, as she was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer in July, and had a double mastectomy in August.

All candidates then attended an Electoral College in Grahamstown – however as Cllr Graham was unable to attend this, as it was only two weeks after her surgery, she had her interview via Skype. The Electoral College then shortlisted around 40 candidates, who progressed to being in front of the Selection Panel.

This involved an intensive 30-minute interview where the candidate had ten minutes to prepare an impromptu speech on a specific topic and then had to answer a number of questions. As those who have heard Cllr Graham in action can testify, she excels at thinking on her feet and quickly assessing and responding to a situation. The scores are then combined with the candidates' PPAS Score (Personal Performance Appraisal System) – this is the DA's performance management system that measures the performance of all DA Public Representatives and forms a large portion of the scoring.

After all of this, the candidates are then ranked on the two lists – National Assembly and Provincial Legislature. The Provincial National Assembly list is then consolidated with the other provinces and a final list for National Assembly is compiled. Ranking on this list is done proportionally based on previous election results.

Once the election results are declared, and the party knows exactly how many seats have been allocated in the National Assembly, NCOP and Provincial Legislatures, people will be put in place from the lists, in order.

"It takes approximately 50 000 votes to get one person into the National Assembly, so, every vote definitely does count" explained Cllr Graham.

Samantha and her family moved to the Karoo at the end of 2008, from Cape Town. They spent just over two years in Aberdeen, where Samantha soon became involved with the community, revitalising the DA in the town, and gaining particular support in Lotusville. She stood as the DA candidate in the local government elections in May 2011, narrowly losing to the ANC candidate. She was subsequently appointed as a PR councillor for the DA. During the election campaign, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2010, finishing treatment the following May, just ten days before the elections. Through all of this she remained positive and focussed on her campaign. In 2012 the family moved to Graaff-Reinet, for Samantha to be nearer her main place of work, and more importantly, to be closer to her children's school.

In the 2016 elections, she was the DA's Mayoral Candidate, and really appreciated the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the Municipality, which she says gave her so much insight into the issues in each area. She added that she has thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the Executive Committee of the Municipality and Chairperson of the Corporate Services Portfolio Committee, which has allowed her greater insight into the workings of local government.

There have also been disappointments and frustrations along the way, one of the biggest being the amalgamation of the municipalities. "My submission opposing it was the basis of a full report commissioned by the Municipal Demarcation Board. The report advised strongly against amalgamation, but politics prevailed and it happened. Watching this Municipality fall into its current dismal financial state is heartbreaking" she said. Another major frustration is that the municipality is not delivering services to the local communities. Samantha has continued to give her utmost to the community and will be sorely missed.

She hit the ground running even during her chemotherapy treatment and worked from East London whilst receiving radiation in Frere earlier this year. Even from Cape Town, the community will probably still be receiving social media updates on local problems from this dynamic lady!

Read a previous article: Samantha for parliament!

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