Maimane pledges for better housing in Grahamstown

Democratic Alliance leader, Mmusi Maimane told almost 200 people in Hlalani that he would keep raising the issue of replacing the tiny 3m x 5m temporary houses with proper homes, as well as service delivery failures at all levels of government.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane vows to fight in parliament for better housing for Grahamstown township residents whose houses are flattened by a tornado.

He told almost 200 people in Hlalani that he would keep raising the issue of replacing the tiny 3m x 5m temporary houses with proper homes, as well as service delivery failures at all levels of government.

A dozen DA councillors from Makana and nearby Ndlambe waited with the crowd for Maimane to arrive at protest hotspot Hlalani in Grahamstown late in the afternoon to walk door to door with the leader.

When he arrived, Maimane visited several of the flimsy, rundown temporary houses before addressing the crowd. Resident Nondumasi Makafe told Maimane and his entourage she was unhappy living with five other family members in the temporary housing.

Maimane urged unhappy residents who wanted change to vote for the DA and not the ANC in local government elections.

He also urged people to vote tomorrow for DA candidate Cary Clarke who would fight it out at the polls with ANC candidate Melikhaya Pongolo for control of Ward 1.

The by-election follows the death of ANC councillor Nomhle Ngoqo in May.

Besides urging residents to vote, Maimane said he was also visiting Hlalani to speak to residents about water and housing issues.

Maimane blamed poor infrastructure and a poorly led ANC municipality for the unrest in Hlalani and punted the party’s Vision 2029.

Ward 1 covers rural areas west of Grahamstown, and includes Riebeek East, which is the hometown of Makana mayor Zamuxolo Peter.