ANC Witzenberg

18/08/2026

PUBLIC STATEMENT - 18 August 2026

SERVING OUR PEOPLE DESPITE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

Issued by Ward Councillor Andile Gili and PR Councillor Noluthando Nogcinisa

We wish to place on record our appreciation to the Department of Human Settlements, and in particular the Office of the Deputy Minister, Honourable Tandi Mahambehlala, for ensuring that much-needed building materials were delivered to residents of Prince Alfred Hamlet, Ward 10, whose homes were affected by the devastating floods a few months ago.

This intervention followed a request made by ANC Councillors on behalf of affected residents. As councillors who remain committed to serving our communities, we approached the Department because we understood the urgent needs of families who were left vulnerable by the floods.

However, what should have been a straightforward humanitarian intervention unfortunately became a highly tense situation.

We are deeply concerned about what transpired on the day of the delivery. Officials from the Department of Human Settlements arrived with the building materials, but the offloading process was delayed following objections from the DA-led Witzenberg Municipality.

The Municipality reportedly raised concerns that it was not aware of the situation and attempted to prevent the Department officials from proceeding with the offloading.

This position is difficult to understand, particularly because the beneficiaries had gone through a verification process involving officials from the Department of Human Settlements as well as officials from the Municipality's Disaster Management structures.

The process was therefore not an overnight or politically manufactured exercise. It was an intervention aimed at assisting residents who were affected by a disaster and required urgent support.

What was even more concerning was the deployment of heavily armed private security and law enforcement personnel to the site by Witzenberg Municipality to hold the Department officials and community members hostage, creating an atmosphere of unnecessary tension around what should have been a humanitarian exercise.

Department officials and community members arrived at approximately 10:00, yet the materials could only be offloaded at around 20:00, after intervention from the Deputy Minister.

We commend Honourable Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala for personally intervening to ensure that the people of Prince Alfred Hamlet did not become victims of a political dispute.

The Deputy Minister travelled from Gauteng to the Western Cape and made her way to Prince Alfred Hamlet to help resolve the situation and ensure that the assistance reached the intended beneficiaries.

Her intervention helped prevent the situation from escalating further and ultimately allowed the delivery to proceed.

For this, we express our sincere appreciation to the Deputy Minister and her office.

For the past several years, ANC councillors have approached the Department of Human Settlements whenever vulnerable residents in Witzenberg required assistance. We will continue doing so because our responsibility as public representatives is to serve our communities and respond to their needs.

We therefore reject any attempt by political parties or political formations to turn humanitarian assistance into a political or racial contest.

The building-materials programme is about people who are in need. It is not about political affiliation, race or electoral support.

We are particularly concerned about attempts by smaller political formations to create divisions between Black and Coloured residents over the beneficiaries of this assistance. Such politics does nothing to address the real challenges facing our communities.

Where residents were not included, there are processes that can be followed to establish the circumstances and determine whether further assistance is possible. The answer cannot be to divide our communities against one another.

We would like to place on record our sincere gratitude to the Department of Human Settlements for consistently responding positively when our communities approach it for assistance.

Whenever our people experience hardship and require support, we will continue to knock on every possible door to find solutions.

We also acknowledge the officials who travelled to Prince Alfred Hamlet, remained committed despite the difficult circumstances and ensured that the materials were eventually delivered.

This is what service to the people should look like.

As ANC Councillors, our commitment is simple: we will continue standing with our people.

We will continue advocating for residents affected by floods, fires, inadequate housing and other hardships. We will continue approaching government departments and other relevant institutions for assistance, regardless of political interference or attempts to frustrate our efforts.

We believe that political differences should never prevent vulnerable residents from receiving humanitarian assistance.

Our people deserve dignity. Our people deserve support. Our people deserve service delivery.

We therefore call on all political formations to put the interests of the community above political competition and to work together where possible to improve the lives of the people we represent.

Yesterday's events may have created unnecessary tension, but ultimately, the people of Prince Alfred Hamlet received the assistance they needed.

That is what matters.

We thank Honourable Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala and the Department of Human Settlements for standing with our communities. We remain committed to serving our people with love, pride, dignity and respect.

The people come first. Always. ✊🏾

Cllr Andile Gili
Ward Councillor – Ward 1, Witzenberg Municipality

PR Cllr Noluthando Nogcinisa
Witzenberg Municipality

18/08/2026

OPENBARE VERKLARING

DIENS AAN ONS MENSE TEN SPYTE VAN POLITIEKE INMENGING

Uitgereik deur Wykraadslid Andile Gili en PR-Raadslid Noluthando Nogcinisa

Ons wil hiermee ons waardering teenoor die Departement van Menslike Nedersettings, en in die besonder die Kantoor van die Adjunkminister, Geagte Tandi Mahambehlala, op rekord plaas vir die versekering dat broodnodige boumateriaal aan inwoners van Prince Alfred Hamlet, Wyk 10, gelewer is wie se huise ’n paar maande gelede deur die verwoestende vloede geraak is.

Hierdie ingryping het gevolg op ’n versoek wat deur ANC-raadslede namens die geaffekteerde inwoners gerig is. As raadslede wat verbind bly tot diens aan ons gemeenskappe, het ons die Departement genader omdat ons die dringende behoeftes verstaan het van gesinne wat weens die vloede kwesbaar gelaat is.

Wat egter ’n eenvoudige humanitêre ingryping moes wees, het ongelukkig in ’n hoogs gespanne situasie ontaard.

Ons is diep bekommerd oor wat op die dag van die aflewering gebeur het. Amptenare van die Departement van Menslike Nedersettings het met die boumateriaal opgedaag, maar die aflaai van die materiaal is vertraag nadat besware deur die DA-geleide Witzenberg Munisipaliteit geopper is.

Die Munisipaliteit het na bewering kommer uitgespreek dat hy nie van die situasie bewus was nie en het probeer om te verhoed dat die Departement se amptenare met die aflaai voortgaan.

Hierdie standpunt is moeilik om te verstaan, veral omdat die begunstigdes ’n verifikasieproses deurloop het waarby amptenare van die Departement van Menslike Nedersettings sowel as amptenare van die Munisipaliteit se Rampbestuurstrukture betrokke was.

Die proses was dus nie ’n oornag- of polities vervaardigde oefening nie. Dit was ’n ingryping wat daarop gemik was om inwoners wat deur ’n ramp geraak is en dringend ondersteuning benodig het, by te staan.

Wat selfs meer kommerwekkend was, was die ontplooiing van swaar gewapende private sekuriteitspersoneel en wetstoepassingsbeamptes deur Witzenberg Munisipaliteit na die terrein om die Departement se amptenare en gemeenskapslede as gyselaars aan te hou, wat ’n atmosfeer van onnodige spanning geskep het rondom wat ’n humanitêre oefening moes wees.

Departementele amptenare en gemeenskapslede het omstreeks 10:00 opgedaag, maar die materiaal kon eers omstreeks 20:00 afgelaai word nadat die Adjunkminister ingegryp het.

Ons prys die Geagte Adjunkminister Tandi Mahambehlala vir haar persoonlike ingryping om te verseker dat die mense van Prince Alfred Hamlet nie slagoffers van ’n politieke dispuut sou word nie.

Die Adjunkminister het vanaf Gauteng na die Wes-Kaap gereis en haar na Prince Alfred Hamlet begewe om te help om die situasie op te los en te verseker dat die hulp die beoogde begunstigdes bereik.

Haar ingryping het gehelp om te voorkom dat die situasie verder eskaleer en het uiteindelik toegelaat dat die aflewering voortgaan.

Hiervoor betuig ons ons opregte waardering teenoor die Adjunkminister en haar kantoor.

Vir die afgelope verskeie jare het ANC-raadslede die Departement van Menslike Nedersettings genader wanneer kwesbare inwoners in Witzenberg hulp benodig het. Ons sal voortgaan om dit te doen, want ons verantwoordelikheid as openbare verteenwoordigers is om ons gemeenskappe te dien en op hul behoeftes te reageer.

Ons verwerp daarom enige poging deur politieke partye of politieke groeperings om humanitêre hulp in ’n politieke of rassekwessie te verander.

Die boumateriaalprogram gaan oor mense wat in nood verkeer. Dit gaan nie oor politieke affiliasie, ras of verkiesingsondersteuning nie.

Ons is veral bekommerd oor pogings deur kleiner politieke groeperings om verdeeldheid tussen Swart en Kleurling-inwoners te skep oor wie die begunstigdes van hierdie hulp is. Sulke politiek doen niks om die werklike uitdagings waarmee ons gemeenskappe te kampe het, aan te spreek nie.

Waar inwoners nie ingesluit is nie, is daar prosesse wat gevolg kan word om die omstandighede vas te stel en te bepaal of verdere hulp moontlik is. Die antwoord kan nie wees om ons gemeenskappe teen mekaar op te sweep en te verdeel nie.

Ons wil ons opregte dank teenoor die Departement van Menslike Nedersettings op rekord plaas vir die konsekwente positiewe reaksie wanneer ons gemeenskappe die Departement om hulp nader.

Wanneer ons mense swaarkry en ondersteuning benodig, sal ons voortgaan om aan elke moontlike deur te klop om oplossings te vind.

Ons erken ook die amptenare wat na Prince Alfred Hamlet gereis het, ondanks die moeilike omstandighede toegewyd gebly het en verseker het dat die materiaal uiteindelik afgelewer is.

Dit is hoe diens aan die mense behoort te lyk.

As ANC-raadslede is ons verbintenis eenvoudig: ons sal voortgaan om saam met ons mense te staan.

Ons sal voortgaan om inwoners wat deur vloede, brande, onvoldoende behuising en ander ontberings geraak word, te verteenwoordig en vir hulle te pleit. Ons sal voortgaan om staatsdepartemente en ander relevante instellings te nader vir hulp, ongeag politieke inmenging of pogings om ons pogings te frustreer.

Ons glo dat politieke verskille nooit moet verhoed dat kwesbare inwoners humanitêre hulp ontvang nie.

Ons mense verdien waardigheid.
Ons mense verdien ondersteuning.
Ons mense verdien dienslewering.

Ons doen daarom ’n beroep op alle politieke groeperings om die belange van die gemeenskap bo politieke mededinging te plaas en waar moontlik saam te werk om die lewens van die mense wat ons verteenwoordig, te verbeter.

Gister se gebeure het moontlik onnodige spanning veroorsaak, maar uiteindelik het die mense van Prince Alfred Hamlet die hulp ontvang wat hulle benodig het.

Dít is wat saak maak.

Ons bedank Geagte Adjunkminister Tandi Mahambehlala en die Departement van Menslike Nedersettings vir hulle ondersteuning aan ons gemeenskappe. Ons bly daartoe verbind om ons mense met liefde, trots, waardigheid en respek te dien.

DIE MENSE KOM EERSTE. ALTYD. ✊🏾

Rdl. Andile Gili
Wykraadslid – Wyk 1, Witzenberg Munisipaliteit

PR Rdl. Noluthando Nogcinisa
Witzenberg Munisipaliteit

29/07/2026

MEDIA STATEMENT - 29 July 2026

ANC CAUCUS – WITZENBERG MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

ANC Caucus Opposed Approving R32 Million Eskom Agreement Without Clear Guarantees for Working-Class Families

The ANC Caucus in the Witzenberg Municipal Council wishes to inform the residents of Witzenberg of our reasons for voting against the approval of the municipality's agreement with Eskom to procure an additional 5 MVA of electricity capacity.

The Council approved:
● The payment of more than R32 million
from the municipal budget to Eskom for
an additional 5 MVA electricity
connection.

● A R30 million bank guarantee to Eskom

While the ANC fully supports investment in infrastructure and recognises the need for additional electricity capacity, we could not support the approval of this expenditure without proper accountability and clear assurances that it will benefit the people of Witzenberg.

The report presented to Council states that the additional electricity capacity is required to accommodate new businesses and new low-cost housing. However, it provides no commitment or guarantee that gap housing projects or working families who do not qualify for fully subsidised RDP housing will benefit from this investment.

Thousands of residents in Witzenberg work every day, earn above the qualifying threshold for RDP housing, and yet still cannot afford private housing. These residents also deserve to know whether this investment will improve their prospects of accessing affordable housing.

Before the matter was approved, the ANC Caucus requested answers to several important questions, including:

How much of the additional 5 MVA has been reserved for housing projects compared with private commercial developments?

Which housing projects will immediately benefit from this investment?

How many households will receive electricity connections because of this upgrade?

Will spending more than R32 million from the municipal budget negatively affect funding for other essential municipal services?

Unfortunately, these legitimate questions were not satisfactorily answered before the item was approved.

The DA-led coalition nevertheless voted in favour of the proposal.

The PA, EFF and Witzenberg Aksie chose to abstain, rather than taking a clear position on a matter involving tens of millions of rand in public funds and the future of electricity infrastructure in our municipality.

In the view of the ANC Caucus, the manner in which this decision was taken demonstrates that the DA-led coalition prioritised the immediate needs of commercial developments without providing clear guarantees for the housing needs of ordinary working-class residents. We believe public infrastructure investments must be accompanied by transparent plans showing how all communities—including the gap market and low-income households—will benefit.

The ANC believes that economic growth and business development are important. However, development cannot come at the expense of the working class, unemployed residents and families who have waited for years for access to decent housing.

We remain committed to ensuring that every rand of public money is spent transparently, responsibly and in a manner that advances the interests of all the people of Witzenberg—not only those with commercial interests.

Issued by: ANC Caucus Witzenberg Municipal Council

23/06/2026

23/06/2026

Geskrywe deur Grant Pascoe

Die DA in Langeberg: Hoeveel Sleutels Moet Een Familie Nog Kry?

Vir meer as twintig jaar is dit bruin gemeenskappe wat die DA in Langeberg help bou het. Hulle het van deur tot deur geloop, stemme gewerf, plakkate opgesit, takke opgebou en die party verdedig wanneer dit onder druk was. Sonder hulle sou die DA nie die politieke steun geniet wat hy vandag in Robertson, Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor en Montagu het nie.

Dit is juis daarom dat al hoe meer mense begin vra of die party werklik die waardes uitleef waarvan hy so graag praat. Die DA sê gereeld hy staan vir geleenthede, meriete en die ontwikkeling van nuwe leiers. Maar in Langeberg begin sommige lede wonder of daardie geleenthede werklik vir almal beskikbaar is.

Niemand sê die Steyn-familie mag nie aan die politiek deelneem nie. Dit is nie die kwessie nie. Die kwessie is dat dieselfde familie oor en oor in invloedryke posisies opduik. Koos Steyn dien reeds sy derde termyn as DA Wesstreek-voorsitter. Sy vrou, Antoinette Steyn, was burgemeester van Breedevallei en is nou die DA se burgemeesterskandidaat vir die Kaapse Wynland Distriksraad. Nog 'n Steyn dien op Langeberg se Burgemeesterskomitee en verskeie belangrike komitees.

Reg of verkeerd, dit skep 'n persepsie dat politieke invloed in die Boland al hoe meer rondom een familie saamtrek.

Vir baie gewone lede is dit waar die ongemak begin. Hulle sien hoe dieselfde vanne oor en oor opduik wanneer belangrike poste gevul word. Hulle sien hoe dieselfde mense aan die stuur bly terwyl ander vir jare wag vir 'n geleentheid om hulself te bewys.

Dit is veral 'n sensitiewe onderwerp in 'n streek waar die DA se steunbasis grootliks uit bruin kiesers en bruin lede bestaan. Dit is hierdie mense wat die veldtogte dryf, die stemme werf en die party op grondvlak aan die gang hou. Tog voel baie van hulle dat wanneer dit by die hoogste politieke poste kom, staan dieselfde mense altyd eerste in die ry.

Wat die vrae verder versterk, is die feit dat die DA reeds in die meeste munisipaliteite sy burgemeesterskandidate vir die 2026-verkiesing aangekondig het. Regoor die land weet lede wie die party se kandidaat gaan wees. Maar in Langeberg bly dit stil.

En hoe langer die stilte duur, hoe meer begin mense wonder.

Wat maak Langeberg anders?

Waarvoor wag die party?

Is daar verdeeldheid agter die skerms?

Of is daar sekere politieke belange wat eers beskerm moet word voordat 'n besluit geneem word?

Dit is nie vrae wat net deur politieke teenstanders gevra word nie. Dit is vrae wat al hoe meer deur lojale DA-lede gevra word. Mense wat die party vir jare ondersteun het en wat glo hulle het die reg om antwoorde te verwag.

Vir jare word bruin DA-lede gevra om lojaal te bly, die veldtogte te dryf en die party te help bou. Hulle het dit gedoen. Daarom is dit nie onredelik dat hulle vandag vra waar hulle in die groter prentjie inpas nie.

Die vraag is nie of die Steyns die reg het om aan die politiek deel te neem nie. Natuurlik het hulle. Die vraag is hoekom soveel invloed, geleenthede en politieke mag oor en oor by dieselfde familie uitkom terwyl ander lede jaar na jaar wag vir hulle kans.

Die stilte rondom Langeberg se burgemeesterskandidaat maak daardie vrae net groter. Want hoe langer die party wag om antwoorde te gee, hoe meer begin mense wonder wat beskerm word, wie beskerm word en waarom.

Uiteindelik gaan hierdie debat oor meer as een familie. Dit gaan oor die soort party wat die DA wil wees. 'n Party waar nuwe leiers kan opstaan en groei, of 'n party waar dieselfde name aanhou opduik wanneer die belangrikste besluite geneem word.

En daarom bly die vraag staan:

Hoeveel sleutels moet een familie nog kry?

23/06/2026

Oh well, I being sanctimonious is a political trait shared by political parties. All those jumping up and down about the Speaker of Parliament's position on the President should look at the Legislature in Wale Street or the City of Cape Town and see how impartial the respective Speakers in these two DA-dominated houses are. I don't bat for the President or the National Assembly but parties who live in glass houses ...

30/04/2026

4 November 2026 Vote ANC 🗳

20/04/2026

We are constantly told that DA-run municipalities are the best in the country — that they are models of good governance, efficiency, and service delivery. But we want to speak honestly today, not from reports or political slogans, but from lived reality on the ground.

Because in our communities — in the very same municipalities that are praised — the experience is different.

When heavy rains come, our streets flood.
When infrastructure fails, our people wait.
When services are delivered, they are often uneven — better in some areas, neglected in others.

So the question we must ask is simple: best for who?

A municipality cannot call itself well-run if whole communities feel left behind. Good governance is not just about clean audits and balanced books — it is about dignity, fairness, and equal service for every resident, regardless of where they live.

Our people are not asking for miracles. We are asking for:

- Proper stormwater systems that protect our homes
- Timely maintenance and response when problems arise
- Equal attention and investment across all communities

We are asking to be seen. We are asking to be treated as equal citizens.

This is not about tearing anyone down — it is about raising the standard. If a municipality claims excellence, then that excellence must be visible in every street, every ward, every community.

We will continue to speak up.
We will continue to demand accountability.
And we will continue to work for a municipality that serves all its people — not just some.

Because true leadership is not measured by what is said in offices, but by what is experienced by the people on the ground.

And right now, our people are still waiting.

19/04/2026