Want a credible alternative in province?

WEARY of citizens’ voices going unheard, civil society group SA First Forum has decided to contest all wards in the City of Cape Town in the upcoming local government elections.

Formed in 2016 by anti-apartheid activists, the SA First Forum has become an outspoken voice against government corruption and maladministration.

It’s petitioned and sometimes taken government departments to court whenever it felt that citizens were not being put first. The forum will contest elections in Cape Town under the name Credible Alternative 1st Movement (CA 1st).

After its virtul launch, convener advocate Rod Solomons told the Weekend Argus that as a civil society group, it felt disregarded by the current municipal government.

“We are demanding accountability,” he said. “We have been sending petitions and the municipality responds with technical responses. We have a sense of what needs to be done and we plan to show everyone just that.”

He said the DA-run municipality was treated like a corporate service and not a municipality that serviced people.

“The municipality is there to make profit, we are a group of people who have been in government and some working in the private sector. We are offering a credible alternative to the poor and middle class of this city.”

He said the DA was running the municipality alone and the ANC had proven to be ineffective in opposition.

“The ANC is busy with its factional battles and thus cannot be an effective opposition. Cape Town is beautiful because of its natural beauty but ugly due to the division of the poor and the working class. We do not want a beautiful city but a city that is humane, caring, listens and that is entrepreneurial.”

Solomons is the party’s mayoral candidate and will only stay for one term then let others take over.

“I want to lay a foundation for others, local government elections are closer to the people. We cannot watch while the DA is dividing people in this city.”

Lobby group STOP CoCT’s Sandra Dickson endorsed the move by Solomons and his group. She said the county’s electorate was still very traditional and would continue to vote for the political parties they were used to. Also political parties have the structures and funding from the IEC and other funders, she noted.

“Civil Society organisations do not have the structures and are mostly confined to one area. Hence, the hopefuls contesting the municipal elections are strongly Ward based.

However, even in provinces and areas like Cape Town with 116 Wards, civil societies cannot contest in all wards due to a lack of funds. It therefore all boils down to funding or rather the lack thereof.”

She added that people were fed up with political parties, but predicted that the stranglehold of the few big parties will be with us for years to come.

“Community leaders are also reluctant to step into politics as they do not trust the system. Though if the trend continues and civil society (organisations) transform themselves successfully into political parties there may be a void to fill.

“Over time other community leaders will form new societies and the whole cycle will repeat itself.”