Maimane visits Knysna to campaign for independents

KNYSNA NEWS - Former leader of the DA and now chief activist of the One South Africa Movement (OSA), Mmusi Maimane, paid Knysna a visit on Thursday and Friday, 14 and 15 October.

His visit formed part of his and OSA's nationwide campaign ahead of the upcoming local government elections to encourage voters to cast their ballots for independent candidates rather than the larger political parties.

"The South African political party system is broken," Maimane said at a public meeting on Thursday 14 October at the Knysna Angling Club. "It has created a system where those politicians who are appointed have forgotten about the people they swore to serve."

According to Maimane, voting for independent political candidates is vital. "Independent candidates are directly accountable to you, the people," he explained. "They aren't obliged to follow party directives or play a role in dirty politics between parties. This is because they're based on the ground, at grassroots level, and they serve you."

During his visit, he also went from door to door to engage with voters across the greater Knysna municipal area.

The trip started with a meet-and-greet breakfast on Thursday before he and the delegation departed for Karatara to engage with voters. Thereafter they visited Keurhoek, White Location, Concordia, Hornlee and Nekkies before the public meeting at the Angling Club, where he also spoke briefly of his experiences around Knysna.

"While the engagement was largely fruitful, it was concerning to see the number of people who don't want to vote, simply because they are 'sick and tired of politics'," he said. "I was however moved to see independent candidates who have been activists in their respective areas for years, and who will be contesting the upcoming elections."

The second day of the visit began with a business breakfast before the delegation departed to conduct oversight visits in the Knysna Industrial Area. The programme concluded with a trip to Sedgefield for further voter engagement.

Since leaving the DA, Maimane has been actively campaigning for a reform of the SA electoral system to better cater for independent political candidates. His work has largely been done through the OSA, a civic organisation.

He hopes to contest the 2024 national elections as an independent candidate following on the 2020 Constitutional Court judgement on electoral reform, which gave national parliament until 2022 to bring about the necessary changes to the electoral act.

Mmusi Maimane Photos: Blake Linder