Patriotic Alliance leader rallies in Westenburg

POLOKWANE – Patriotic Alliance (PA) supporters from Limpopo who gathered in Westenburg for a pre-election rally on Sunday, are of the view that they also want to benefit from what they found to be positive service delivery in other areas of the country where the party took up ward leadership from recent by-elections.

Party leader Gayton McKenzie was well supported by members and sympathisers at the Omega church, some arriving in buses from Mokopane and Tzaneen among other areas.

Representatives of the community said they believed McKenzie has succeeded in booting out drug abuse and crime during his tenure as Central Karoo mayor in the Western Cape and would do the same in their area if elected successfully during this year’s provincial and national election. The area is among the PA’s strongholds in Polokwane.

“He has also shown an understanding of the rot that undocumented foreign nationals cause for citizens and an interest for stringent border management,” Ziggy Whitehead, a resident and PA supporter, told Polokwane Observer.

The party’s members and executives were seen on social media footage weeks ago blocking hundreds of foreign nationals who were attempting to cross a river from Zimbabwe into South Africa near the Beitbridge border post.

In recent meetings, township locals complained about inadequate police response times as a factor that perpetuates criminal behaviour among the youth, free-drug use and the increase of undocumented foreign nationals in the area.

The area is walking distance from the city and inexpensive accommodation in property back rooms for those who do not have financial backup such as social grants, is common.

Speaking to Polokwane Observer, the PA leader expressed confidence to garner sufficient votes that will “push the party into the Limpopo legislature” after the elections.

“If these people here love suffering, I will not do well but if they love change, I am their guy,” McKenzie remarked.