Cachet Park CID (City Improvement District) hosted its first multiparty panel discussion on Wednesday, October 28, giving political parties and the community an opportunity to engage in robust and informative discussions about the upcoming Local Government Elections.

The focus was on JB Marks Municipality, with a critical look at its current state, the changes needed and the improvements parties would seek to implement if elected.

Wouter Pienaar, editor of the Potchefstroom Herald, chaired the panel discussion.

Seven parties were represented at the discussion: the Afrika Mayibuye Movement (Progress Mpangane), All Citizens Party (Romeo Matjila), African Christian Democratic Party (Vusi Zikalala), BAAGI (Fula Malefane), Democratic Alliance (Prof. Theo Venter), Economic Freedom Fighters (Gaanakgomo Ntshekisang) and Freedom Front Plus (Matthys van Tonder).

Opposition party representatives noted that the governing African National Congress did not have a representative at the meeting.

Each representative had the opportunity to share their views on various issues, including infrastructure development, financial management and job creation. Audience members, including political party supporters and local residents, also contributed to the discussion and asked questions about student housing, the JB Marks demerger case and the potential role of tourism in driving economic regeneration in the municipality.

With less than a week to go before voters head to the polls, the panel discussion highlighted the importance of practical engagement on the issues affecting the local community.

Photos: Tian du Preez