Update

GRAAFF-REINET POLITICAL NEWS - The by-election held last week in ward 2 (Graaff-Reinet Horseshoe area and Nieu Bethesda) resulted in a resounding victory for the Democratic Alliance candidate Ricardo Smith.

The overall result showed the DA with 78.52% of the vote as against the ANC’s 21.48%.

In Nieu Bethesda, the ANC candidate received 70 more votes than the DA’s, which was just over 14% of the votes cast in the village. The party did, however, receive 47 less votes than in 2016, whereas the DA received 51 more votes than at the last election.

In Graaff-Reinet, the DA’s candidate romped home with 94.8% of the votes cast, an increase of about 4% of the share compared to 2016.

Less than half of the registered voters actually made the effort to vote, with the voter turn-out being 48.45% - apparently around the norm for a by-election.

Although Ricardo Smith has been elected, he has not yet been sworn in by Council, so he is not yet a councillor. It is anticipated this will happen at the Special Council Meeting scheduled for 30 April. Until then, Cllr Samantha Graham will still be the caretaker councillor for ward 2

Cllr Graham, in her role as the DA’s caucus leader in the municipality, reported that the party is delighted with the result, and has every confidence in Smith’s ability to make a positive impact in the area.