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KNYSNA NEWS & VIDEO - Knysna's mayor, Elrick van Aswegen, took the opportunity to exercise his democratic right to vote earlier this afternoon by making his mark in the 2021 local government elections (LGE).

Van Aswegen, who is also serving as the councillor for Ward 6 alongside his mayoral duties, visited the voting station at Vermont Old Age Home just after 14:00 today, 1 November to cast his vote. Upon completing his vote, he encouraged the residents of Knysna to go out and do the same.

"They have to come out. It's their future, it's their children's future, it's the town's future. For them not to come out, it's them basically saying 'I don't care about my town'," Van Aswegen remarked outside the voting station. Voting stations have been open since 07:00 this morning, and are open to voters until 21:00 tonight.

If you are registered as a special vote but didn't make it to the polls this weekend you need not worry, as you can still cast your vote along with the rest of the country's normal voters today. You can check if you are registered to vote in the LGE as well as where your voting station is, here (https://www.elections.org.za/pw/Voter/Voter-Information).

Video: Knysna mayor encourages public to vote

In the 2011 LGE Ward 6 was won by the ANC with 36,76% of the votes, while in 2016 it was narrowly won by Cope with Van Aswegen as candidate winning 34,52% of the votes. 

While he is not contesting this year's elections as a ward councillor, Van Aswegen is a proportional representative candidate for the ANC. His compatriot and ANC Ward 6 candidate Kay Andrews will be facing off with 14 other candidates to win back the ward for the ANC.

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