The DA is confident it can build on the 25% gain in voter support the party achieved in this year’s national general election in the area.
Mergan Chetty, a DA member of the National Council of Provinces, has been appointed the DA Constituency Head for the Umzinyathi area, in place of the now-retired Radley Keys, who did such an admirable job for the party over the past eight years.
Mr Chetty said the increase in DA support – in especially Ward 2 in Endumeni – was indicative of the DA making inroads into other communities, as well as retaining its traditional support base.

“This puts us in good stead for the 2016 local elections. We assess our councillors and their work, and we are very happy. It is no use trying to fix something that is not broken.

“However, we must try even harder. Remember, the DA fights issues, not race. In the national elections the issues were Nkandla, national corruption and nepotism. In the local elections the core issue is service delivery.

Dedicated Councillors
“The ANC fails to realise this. Seven mayors in the province did not heed the Auditor General’s cautioning regarding audit reports. I know the problems in Endumeni: illegal appointments, cadre deployment, suspensions, et cetera. Only by voting for the DA can voters be assured of proper service delivery driven by dedicated councillors.”
He said the DA will have the tender system reconsidered, and work will rather be outsourced.

“We are the only party that offers a viable alternative to what the ANC has given. Their track record in local government is there for all to see, and what a sorry tale it is. The only good story the ANC can tell is this one: looking after JZ.”
Mr Chetty said he is looking forward to working in the area, and while he is in Cape Town with the NCOP, and in Pietermaritzburg (his home town), he hopes to travel to Endumeni at least every two weeks.

“Voters need to punish the ANC for their failures by opting for the DA. Our councillors have track records of ensuring the ruling parties in Endumeni and other towns in the area are kept in check through rigorous opposition that is to the benefit of residents.”
Mr Chetty met with DA councillors from Endumeni, Umzinyathi and Nquthu on Saturday, and later participated in the 5km Gandhi Walk, which he hailed as a fine example of how the rainbow nation ‘comes together in the name of peace and friendship – the ideals of Gandhi’.