Edition 8 MOOI-UMGENI TODAY COVERING: Howick, Hilton, Merrivale, Nottingham Road, Cedara, Lions River, Mpophomeni, Dargle, Balgowan, Zenani, Lidgetton, Karkloof, Curry's Post, Mooi River, Rosetta, Impendle ONLY 9% that is what stands in the way of a capable, credible and caring government in uMngeni. 1 in 8 DA voters are not registered! ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? Visit https://www.da.org.za/registertovote to check your status ATTENTION: first time voters can now register online. Visit: registertovote.elections.org.za DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE DA uMngeni www.da.org.za/mooi-umngeni-constituency P-1 DA Mooi River UNITE - REBUILD - PROTECT The last few weeks have been nothing short of anarchy. Communities throughout the Province have been ravaged by groups of looting criminals, set on stealing and destroying infrastructure necessary to the effective operation of an already fragile economy. PICTURE: Soup kitchen in Mooi River. Ward 1 Whilst the sinister origins of these few weeks of lawlessness are yet to be fully candidate, Michael uncovered (and we can be sure that all fingers point to the ANC), we as the Mkhize, assist the elderly Democratic Alliance need to position ourselves at the forefront of all operations with a hot meal. to unite, protect, and rebuild our communities. It has been evident that during the week of looting, the majority of our public representatives, especially our Councillors, were on the ground and at the forefront of protecting and defending their wards. This has generated a lot of goodwill to our Councillors and the DA, which we must seek to sustain and build upon. PICTURE: Soup kitchen in Howick. Pensioners often We have also witnessed the sustained campaign by the KZN Premier, National queue for hours outside Police Minister, eThekwini Mayor and EFF leader, Julius Malema to drive racial the post office to collect wedges to divide, and pit communities against each other. grants. DA volunteers However, it has been encouraging to see the willingness of community members assist with a hot meal. to come together, motivated by one common thread, a strong desire to protect their lives and livelihoods. This is what the DA in KZN believes will bring our province back together and it is what we as a political party are committing ourselves to. PICTURE: DA party leaders visit an NGO in Mpophomeni and provide a donation towards their rebuilding. PICTURE: John Steenhuisen and Francois Rodgers attending a meeting with NGOs, security companies and community volunteers who helped to defend PICTURE: DA parliamentary PICTURE: Partnering with Midlands communities PICTURE: Supporting reps motivated for SANDF to religious bodies to provide during the recent unrest. local NGOs with food be deployed to the Midlands relief DA PRESSURE PAYING OFF - uMngeni WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP Municipal Manager under fire BRING CHANGE TO UMNGENI? The embattled uMngeni Municipal Manager, Thembeka Cibane, was struck another blow when the uMngeni Council resolved to place her on a precautionary REGISTER TO VOTE suspension. This was however not without controversy. The DA in uMngeni has for years been building the pressure against Mrs Cibane for DONATE TO OUR CAMPAING the continued decline of the uMngeni Municipality. From wasteful expenditure, irregular spending and a damning Special investigating Unit (SIU) report around covid spending the Municipal Manager has taken the uMngeni Municipality from bad to VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME worse. At a full council sitting the uMngeni council resolved to suspend the Municipal Manager following an SIU recommendation around the irregular and unauthorised VOTE FOR THE DA spending of Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding. R9.6 million allocated to maintaining uMngeni's crumbling infrastructure was, CONTACT US TO WIN according to the SIU, misappropriated and channeled to respond to the covid-19 pandemic. 62 Main St, Howick At various council meetings and in committee meetings the DA called for an [email protected] investigation into covid-19 spending and the handling of the response by the uMngeni Municipality. After months of pressure an investigation was commissioned. 082 323 1191 The results of the investigation were presented to Parliament where the SIU found that there was indeed an illegal utilisation of funds. In addition to the SIU report, the internal auditor and the Auditor General (AG) have both made serious findings in respect of the municipality's finances. In a bizarre meeting, the ANC in uMngeni spent 5 hours fighting each other about the SIU recommendations. Opposing ANC factions placed different motions in council and ANC councillors voted against each other. In the end the motion to implement the SIU recommendations was passed including the precautionary suspension of the Municipal Manager. This decision was upheld and supported by a delegation from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that visited uMngeni in mid-August. DA uMngeni www.da.org.za/mooi-umngeni-constituency P-2 DA Mooi River HOWICK WEST BACKS THE DA Saturday the 7th August saw the Howick West Community come out in numbers to pledge their support for the DA in the upcoming local government elections. Howick West which falls in Ward 1 is currently an ANC ward. The DA narrowly lost to the ANC in 2016 resulting in 5 years of ANC representation. Fed up with the lack of service delivery, non-response from their current councillor and the apparent neglect of the community, leaders in Howick West called the DA and pledged to mobilise the community to support the DA in the upcoming elections. The DA outlined our 5 key priorities and introduced the ward candidate, Mr Thembelani Sikhakhane. The importance of registering and turning out to vote was an important feature of the meeting. Ward1 has one of the lowest voter turnouts of all the wards. In order to get a DA ward councillor the residents of Howick West would need to turn out on election day. The DA is offering the people of Howick West an opportunity to have an accountable, transparent and responsive government that puts their needs firts. PICTURE: Howick West Community Hall STEENHUISEN VISITS UMNGENI DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen again visited the Midlands area to engage with residents and show the party's commitment to winning the uMngeni Municipality and bring real change. Steenhuisen strated off the day with a tour of the Zuzokuhle informal settlement where he engaged with residents about their poor living conditions and some of the DA's tangible solutions to change their lives. He proceeded to a well attended public meeting in Howick West where he sent a strong message about the DA's commitment to being the centre of rational and solution orientated politics in South Africa. Another public meeting in Hilton saw John engaging with residents about the declining service delivery conditions as well as some crucial issues around crime and safety. Steenhuisen ended the day in Mpophomeni where he visited a number of residents to hear their concerns about the failure of basic services in the township. Volunteers and supporters then join Steenhuisen and other party leaders at a local Shisa Nyama where Steenhuisen thanked all the new recruits and supporters for believing in the DA and moving the blue machine forward. The DA is throwing its full weight behind the team in uMngeni because of the possibilities to change the government and turn the ship around. PICTURE: A covid compliant but well attended PICTURE: Steenhusien and other party leaders town hall meeting held at the Howick West address supporters at a Shisa Nyama in PICTURE: Steenhuisen at the Community Hall. Mpophomeni. Zuzokuhle informal settlement. ACTIVE AND VISIBLE Our DA teams have been active and visible across the Midlands. We have been actively registering new voters and those who are incorrectly registered. Every new registration to the uMngeni voters roll is a step closer towards winning uMngeni and bringing real change to all our communities. DA elected representatives are always available at our tables to assist member of the public. DA uMngeni www.da.org.za/mooi-umngeni-constituency P-3 DA Mooi River NEWS IN BRIEF YOUTH MONTH 2021 The DA in Mpophomeni partnered with a local sports body to sponsor a DA takes IEC to court over attempts to postpone elections. The DA youth soccer tournament. Over 120 children participated in a two day long believes that the local government elections can be held within the tournament. Through your generous donations the DA was able to time frames and that tampering with the constitution sets a bad sponsor drinks, prizes and stationery packs for the participants. The DA is precedence. building new relationships in all communities to show our caring spirt. Over 113 000 signatures on the DA 'self defense' petition. The DA is fighting the national governments attempts to stop ordinary citizens and security companies from having right to own fire arms. Charges laid against the uMngeni Municipal Manager for failing to adhere to legislation that requires the municipality to burn fire breaks. Hilton councillors partner with faith based organisations to feed hundreds of people adversely affected by the riots and looting. John Steenhuisen slams Ramaphosa's cabinet reshuffle as putting the ANC before the country. It has been dubbed a cabinet recycle and not a reshuffle. DA in the national assembly submits the "stop cadre deployment bill" before parliament in a bid to stop the run away effects of political patronage. Hilton SAPS - DA circulates petition to have the station properly resourced. Auditor General ranks the top 5 best run municipalities in South Africa. All are run by the DA! Charges laid against the EFF for transgressing the Covid-19 regulations. The DA is taking legal action to force national government to disclose all details pertaining to its vaccine rollout strategy, including the dates and the minutes of meetings with suppliers, and we are lobbying to abolish the centralisation of vaccine acquisition.