New face on the DA block
The DA won a landslide victory in last week's by-election in Waterkloof. The new councillor for Ward 42, Phillip Nel, said he would work hard to fill his predecessor's shoes
Last week’s by-election in the Waterkloof area saw the DA retaining the ward with a whopping 96% majority over the ANC.
Although the voter turnout was a low 34%, the DA increased its majority in the up-market residential area from almost 77% in 2014 and 82% in 2011.
The by-election was held after the seat had been vacated by the DA’s Bronwynn Engelbrecht, who had been sent to parliament by the party late last year.
The new councillor for Ward 42 – Waterkloof and Waterkloof Ridge – is Phillip Nel, who vowed to “continue the fight for service delivery against the tyranny” of the ANC-led municipality.
Although the DA win in the area was no surprise, DA councillor Duncan Baker said with the municipal elections to be held later this year, the result of the by-election was of interest.
In the by-election, the DA received 4 473 votes against a mere 168 in favour of the ANC.
Nel said he realised stepping into Engelbrecht’s shoes was a tall order, but was confident that his years of experience as director of his residence association prepared him to deal effectively and efficiently with matters affecting residents.
A resident of Lynnwood since 1978, Nel recently retired from the University of Pretoria where he had been in charge of property management. Before that he held a similar position at the Tshwane University of Technology.
“The nature of my work ensured that I had to work closely with the Tshwane metro on issues of spatial planning and infrastructure,” he said, adding that he would use his experience to benefit the residents of Ward 42.
He said he intended to work hard for those who had trusted him with their vote and believed that he would achieve good results for his efforts.
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