The Makana Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Democratic Alliance (DA) was held on Saturday. Jock McConnachie, chairperson of the Makana Branch, discussed the performance of the branch in the provincial elections.
The Makana Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Democratic Alliance (DA) was held on Saturday. Jock McConnachie, chairperson of the Makana Branch, discussed the performance of the branch in the provincial elections.
He said that the DA had managed to reduce the ANC’s majority in Makana from 80% to 60%, which he described as being “much healthier for democracy and efficiency”. “This augurs very well for 2011,” he added.
The successful mobilisation of the student vote was also described as a “major contributing factor” towards the local branch’s excellent performance in the recent elections. Whisson: tips for the ANC Michael Whisson, who currently serves on the Makana Council, also spoke at the AGM.
He called for “deliverance from the destructive factionalism of the ANC leadership”, further commenting that the “business of running the municipality has suffered” as a result of the factionalism. Whisson concluded that the promised delivery can only be achieved by ensuring that the upward momentum, generated largely through the efforts of the Branch members, be sustained in 2011.
In addressing his narrow defeat for the position of Mayor – Whisson lost by one vote to current Mayor, Vumile Lwana – he said that the DA was not disappointed. “We had done much better than we could have imagined,” he said.
McConnachie said that “Grahamstown and Makana would definitely have benefited from a Mayor like him.” The Makana DA Committee expands Seven more individuals were elected, in addition to the four councillors and the chairperson who currently serve on the branch committee; creating a committee of twelve. McConnachie was re-elected to serve as chairperson for the branch committee and aims to continue fulfilling this mandate until the 2011elections.
Whisson, who intends to retire from local government following the 2011 elections, will continue to hold the position of vice-chairperson on the branch committee, ex-officio his position as head of the Council caucus. A further two deputy vice-chairpersons, Marcel Boysen and Andrew Hutchinson, were elected. One of the two could eventually take over as chairperson after 2011.
McConnachie said: "These two individuals are major contributors in their respective spheres and each has excellent capabilities that we will need in the party." In conclusion, McConnachie acknowledged the importance of creating a Youth and Women’s League within Makana. It was also noted by those present at the meeting that it was a priority to establish a township Branch before the next elections in 2011.
