LYDENBURG – History was recently made when a second DA councillor from Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM) was elected to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in the parliament of SA.
MP Mr Farhad Essack will soon join others in parliament. He has been a councillor at the municipality for the past 18 years. Earlier this year MP Ms Sonja Boshoff was also elected as a member of the NCOP. This was the first time ever that two councillors from a town like Lydenburg were elected to serve in parliament.
Speaking to Steelburger/Lydenburg News, Essack said he was deeply humbled by the opportunities presented to him by the DA. “It has been a fantastic experience being a local councillor and sacrificing for my community over the years.
“The many memorable experiences will always be etched in my mind. It is, however, sad for me to have seen the demise of my municipality due to poor management and decisions that were made by the ruling party.
“I remain committed and grateful to those who have supported me over the years. It is my intention to further endeavour to a higher level to assist TCM and continue to play a major roll throughout Mpumalanga,” he said.
“It is important for me to make it clear that as the DA and myself, we will always remain more than committed to the municipality and its inhabitants.
“Rest assured that I will always be available and willing to address the needs of businesses, residents and the broader community. TCM has definitely not heard the last of me.
“Finally, I owe my most heartfelt gratitude and thanks to my wife, Nadia and children, Noushina and Yasser for believing in me and standing with me throughout the years. My sincere thanks to the business fraternity, residents and friends who have played such a vital role in my success. You will never be forgotten.”
He said his roots would remain in Lydenburg and it would always be his home.
The NCOP is the upper house of the parliament of South Africa under the constitution, which came into full effect in 1997. It replaced the former senate, but is very similar to that body, and to many other upper houses of legislature throughout the world. Its purpose is to represent the governments of the provinces, rather than directly representing the people.
Election to the council is indirect. Citizens vote for provincial legislatures, and each one then nominates a delegation of 10 members to the NCOP. Thus each of South Africa’s provinces has equal representation in the council, regardless of population.
The party representation in the delegation must proportionally reflect that of the provincial legislature, according to the constitution.
It must consider all national Bills, and also has the power to initiate lawmaking the functional areas where parliament and the provincial legislatures have concurrent power.
The DA’s provincial leader, Mr Anthony Benadie said the news of two of its councillors being elected to parliament was exceptional.
“The DA is very proud of them. They worked extremely hard. This is a party of merits and they made a valuable contribution. I am certain that they will be outstanding MPs. I wish them all the best,” he added.
