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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is celebrating phenomenal growth after an outright win of Kareeberg municipality, Ward 4, during yesterday’s by-election in Carnarvon. Our additional seat in council will now see us considering the possibility of setting up a coalition agreement in Kareeberg municipality.

DA support grew significantly from 94 votes (13,35%) in the Local Government Elections last year to 210 votes (42,77%) yesterday.

The DA’s Hasi Vermeulen will take up the position of Ward 4 councillor. Vermeulen is well known to residents and is dedicated and passionate about the community he is to serve. He will also not rest until he can see a visible improvement in service delivery in Ward 4.

The DA secured a resounding victory despite the significant handouts of thousands of rands to local SMMEs and entrepreneurs in Carnarvon over the past weeks. This gives us hope that people are no longer willing to have their votes bought and that they are looking for the best possible solutions to the growing number of problems they are facing, and not mere handouts.

The dire state of Kareeberg municipality, of the Northern Cape and of the country at large, is also making people realise that they need an alternative government. The DA’s track record across the country and in the Northern Cape has further made more people realise that the DA is a viable government in waiting. The DA has also increasingly proven that we care for our people, we prioritize service delivery, we fight for communities and we get things done. We believe that this has motivated the people of the local community to support us.

The DA is confident that the result of this by-election clearly indicates that the DA in the Northern Cape is now back on an upward growth trajectory.

The DA will continue to work hard in our communities and up our game even further, as we have done in Ward 4, so as to remain relevant to the people of the Northern Cape and to spread hope of a better future without the ANC, under a DA government.

Issued by Harold McGluwa, MPL - DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader