The Democratic Alliance (DA) is the first political party to introduce its candidates for the local government elections in November.

The party introduced 29 of its candidates in an advertisement that appeared in the print edition of the Middelburg Observer this week.

There is another surprise candidate whose name has not been announced.

The candidates of the Blue Party, who will be seeking to take control of the Steve Tshwete Municipality, are a mix of experienced and young new prospective councillors.

Old hands such as Johan Dyason, Elsie Vermooten, Deon van der Merwe, Morgan Bruiners, Hennie Niemann, San-Mari Wait and Ammelia Struwig, are all back.

Helda de Klerk, who was initially not available, has been persuaded to represent Kanonkop again.

An interesting new name is that of Gawie van Deventer who has been involved with the reservists and police for years.

Lynette van der Merwe who will try to take Ward 18 from the ANC is also a new name.

Some of the candidates who are not so well known to voters are Zodwa Nkosi for ward one, Marcus Mudau in ward two, Antonet Botha in ward 11, Lynette van der Merwe in ward 18 as well as Ronnie

Appalsamy on the PR list alongside Innocent Nene.

The full list is in the Middelburg Observer.

The DA leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, urged Middelburg Observer readers in a voice mail message to buy the newspaper this week, to see where their cross should be drawn in November.

The Middelburg Observer has been the town’s favourite mouthpiece since 1903 and it is no wonder that the party has decided that it is its preferred medium to introduce the candidates.

The first owner and Editor, Oscar Henry Frewin, was himself mayor of Middelburg and Frewin Street in Clubville was named after him.