Political parties target untapped North West electorates

Some newly formed political parties in the North West district of Ngaka Modiri Molema are optimistic that they will change the landscape of local government in the province, if elected into councils, during the upcoming local government elections.

Bophuthatswana Civil Movement will contest in nine municipalities across Bojanala and Ngaka Modiri Molema districts, while the African Revolutionary Council will contest in eight municipalities in the province.

The African Spear Movement, which was formed by the former Speaker of Ngaka Modiri Molema district and former ANC member Tebogo Ramashilabele will contest in over 10 municipalities.

The North West comprises 22 municipalities, four districts and 18 local municipalities.

Campaigns

Political parties are ramping up their campaigns ahead of local government elections on the 4th of next month.

The new political entrants in the North West, such as Bophuthatswana Civil Movement, the African Revolutionary Council and the African Spear Movement, are also trying to make inroads.

Despite having limited resources, the parties are hopeful that they will garner sufficient votes to get representation local councils.

Leaders of both Bophuthatswana Civil Movement and the African Spear Movement,are promising to deal with bread and butter issues at municipalities.

Bophuthatswana Civil Movement president Kagiso Monyadiwa says, “We have identified corruption as a major role or deterrent towards our people receiving the basic services that they so deserve. We deem the North West province and all its municipalities as a crime scene. It’s therefore our hope that we will help to regain, reclaim and restore what used to be, because Bophuthatswana is a very typical example of the approach that we are going to adopt going forward in providing basic services to the people.”

African Spear Movement president Tebogo Ramashilabele says, “We are going to recover, reclaim and own what belongs to the people of this province. Now, that’s where we are. the main thing about this party is to save the North West and also to give the people of this province what they are entitled to. The issue of road maintenance does not need these things of tenders. Why can’t we employ people and get into a yellow-fleet type of thing? We have parents and youth from 35 years up to 70 years who will be working in all the municipalities. Their daily work will be to patch potholes, do road maintenance and maintain lights, to bring that life within all our municipalities.”

Instability

Many municipalities in the province are experiencing a collapse in basic services amid allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement and political instability.

The African Revolutionary Council has committed to abolishing the tender system, which the party says is at the centre of corruption in municipalities.

African Revolutionary Council president Lucky Kgabi says, “We will have people-centred municipalities. Nothing will be done for our people without them contributing to what is to be done for them. Secondly, we are promising to provide quality and better services to our people. We are going to start by first making sure that the infrastructure that is there is properly maintained. Thirdly, we are going to do away with the tendering system, insource those services and capacitate our municipalities to be able to deliver the services that our communities require.”

Hung councils

A local government expert from North-West University says new political parties in the North West could emerge as kingmakers in the province after the November elections.

Local government expert Dr Arthur Shopola explains, “It is very much possible that we are going to have hung councils, and some of these small parties or new entrants are likely to become the kingmakers. when they are in that position, you can be guaranteed that they will get into the levers of power within that particular municipality.”

More than 70 political parties and over 50 independent candidates are expected to contest this year’s elections in the North West. -Reporting by Thabiso Moss