Cape Argus E-dition

A voice for E Cape in Parliament

SIYAMTANDA CAPA siyamtanda.capa@inl.co.za

AFTER growing up in Burgersdorp and joining the ranks of both the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality and the Joe Gqabi District Municipality, an Eastern Cape woman is ready to take on Parliament.

Marina van Zyl wants to continue fighting for people in rural small Eastern Cape towns by championing housing and infrastructure-related issues in the National Assembly.

Van Zyl is the latest member of the DA to be deployed to Parliament and replaced Annette Steyn, who retired from politics in June. She is set to be sworn in in the next few weeks.

The 40-year-old mother of one said while the task ahead was daunting, she was excited to take on the challenge.

“It's a big honour to represent the people of the Eastern Cape in Parliament, to know that you are part of the 400 people that look after the interest of the people of the country is quite amazing,” Van Zyl said.

She said the plan was to take up issues from the ground straight to Parliament in the form of questions.

Van Zyl said her plan was to ask the hard questions.

“For me, it has always been about bringing back human dignity of people. I want to add on and say, don't forget the people in the small towns that are still suffering,” she said.

Van Zyl said she was aware that some people in small towns such as Herschel and villages surrounding Sterkspruit were yet to be connected to running water and flushing toilets. This had left many people frustrated with the ANC. Of the 12 years she spent as a councillor, Van Zyl spent the first few years of her career as a PR councillor in the then Gariep municipality. In 2011 she managed to clinch a ward that had previously been run by the ANC after one year as a councillor.

With the exception of being ignored and frustrated by the ANC, Van Zyl said she had no low points as she loved her job as a councillor.

“I think I have a big task ahead, but I believe I will enjoy this new challenge because I love serving people and resolving issues,” Van Zyl said.

The move to Parliament means she will vacate her position as chairperson for the Association of Democratic Alliance Councillors, where she led a team responsible for upskilling and guiding DA councillors.

“My door is always always open to councillors. I have been a councillor and I know the frustrations that councillors face when they meet these dead ends in municipalities and I hope to elevate as much as I can, the frustrations that councillors have on the ground,” she said.

METRO

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2022-08-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/281552294638621

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