Newly elected Drakenstein Municipality Councillors

New Drakenstein Executive:

Executive Mayor	Conrad Poole
Deputy Executive Mayor & Finances	Gert Combrink
Speaker	Aidan Stowman
Chief Whip	Anre Koegelenberg
Safety (acting Mayor in absence of Mayor & Deputy)	Rean Smuts
Engineering	Koos le Roux
Corporate Services	Patricia Makoena
Planning & Economic Development	Johan Muller
Social Services	Francis Jacobs
Sport, Youth & Culture	Laurichia van Niekerk
Parks and Public Open Spaces	Christephine Kearns
Inter-Governmental Relations & Communication	Reinhardt van Nieuwenhuyzen
Human Settlements	Lorraine Willemse
Rural Managements	Rita Andreas

Drakenstein Councillors to Cape Winelands District Municipality:

ANC	Colin Rens
	Lydia Sambokwe
DA	Linda Landu
	Ruth Arnolds
	Loekie Niehaus
	Miriam Adriaanse
	Eva Gouws
EFF	Moses Klaas

Following the #2016MunicipalElections the Democratic Alliance won the second biggest municipality in the Western Cape with 66.02%.
8 parties will represent the voters of Drakenstein. Seat calculation: Democratic Alliance 43 seats (66.02%), ANC 15 seats (23.59%), EFF: 2 seats (2.36%), PDM: 1 seat (1.67%), ACDP: 1 seat (1.38%), FD: 1 seat (0.75%),
ICOSA: 1 seat (0.74) and FF+ 1 seat (0.69%).

ACDP		Joseph Matthee
ANC		Abraham Bekeer
ANC		Bongiwe Duba
ANC		Moutie Richards
ANC		Mandisa Vika
ANC		Colin Rens
ANC		Amelda Afrika
ANC		Thuso Mpulanyana
ANC		Lydia Sambokwe
ANC		Nkomfa Mkabile
ANC	W05	Ndileka Mbenene
ANC	W06	Tryphina Zukiswa Nqoro
ANC	W08	Nomonde Zikhali
ANC	W09	Tembekile Mangena
ANC	W12	Mcedisi Nobula
ANC	W32	Lawrence Nzele
DA		Conrad Poole
DA		Wendy Philander
DA		Linda Landu
DA		Koos le Roux
DA		Nancy George
DA		Gert Combrink
DA		Rita Andreas
DA		Zolani Masoka
DA		Andre Koegelenberg
DA		Minah Mdunusie
DA		Rean Smuts
DA		Patricia Makoena
DA		Nico Sauerman
DA		Anathi Lugqola
DA		Elizabeth Solomons
DA		Aletta van Santen
DA		Ben de Goede
DA	W01	Calvin Kroutz
DA	W02	Hendrik Kotze
DA	W03	Wilhelmina Smit
DA	W04	Johan Miller
DA	W07	Ruth Arnolds
DA	W10	Christephine Kearns
DA	W11	Aidan Stowman
DA	W13	Soudah Ross
DA	W14	Jo-Ann de Wet
DA	W15	Loekie Niehaus
DA	W17	Jako Matthee
DA	W18	Albertus Buckle
DA	W19	Theunis Bester
DA	W20	Patricia Cupido
DA	W21	Eva Gouws
DA	W22	Felix Cupido
DA	W23	Frances Jacobs
DA	W24	Miriam Adriaanse
DA	W25	Laurichia van Niekerk
DA	W26	Joan Anderson
DA	W27	Vanessa Booysen
DA	W28	Reinhardt van Nieuwenhuyzen
DA	W29	Lorraine Willemse
DA	W30	Johannes Smit
DA	W31	Geoffrey Ford
DA	W33	Sharon September
EFF		Moses Thembile Klaas
EFF		Xoliswa Jonas
Federation of Democrats		Marthinus le Hoe
Freedom Front Plus		Willem Meyer
ICOSA		Alvina Abrahams
PDM	W16	Derrick Blanckenberg

It's all about the X

On 3 August more than 26 million of my fellow 54 million South African’s can like me go and make their X. 

We will get the opportunity to choose a political party and ward candidate to represent our needs and deliver on their promises.

Once I have made that cross I will have to live with our collective decision on who will represent my ward and govern my municipal area. 

It is thus important that when I make my X I do so with prise and use my vote wisely.

Just fewer than 50,000 of the more than 3 million Western Cape voters are between 18 and 19 and will make their X for the first time. They/we will get to pick from a record 200 parties and 61 014 candidates contesting the 2016 Municipal Elections; this is approximately 65% more parties and 12% more candidates than in 2011.

Some experts have called this the most important election since that all important 1994 one. All elections are important though, but what would make this one interesting is to see if we as voters will vote according to our needs or based on our loyalty.

Our vote is more than an opportunity it is a responsibility that gives us access to the right to hold our public representatives accountable. Our vote is not just worth five minutes, but indeed five years. Five years to hold those whom we elect accountable to serve the basic needs of the community.

The past few months we have seen various service delivery protests across the country. Just like no person is perfect, so is no party and each hold their own battles Racism, quotas in sport, corruption, a private jet, spy tapes and many other issues are important. What we sometimes forget is to put realistic solutions on the table on issues affecting the everyday lives of especially the poor.

While we worry about a new presidential jet or a racist post on social media, there is a grandma taking care of her 5 grandchildren wondering where will she get tomorrow’s supper. While discuss quotas in sport, the parents of a talented young sport player don’t have the funds to provide him with clothes to practice in.

Yes this election is like all previous and those to come important. 

This election is an opportunity the voter can vote for their needs and who will make a real change in their lives. This local government election is an opportunity for the voter to vote based on your needs, to vote for who can make a change in your life and not just on paper or a poster.

When I walk into the VD and hold my ballot paper, standing alone, I will hold my breath and think that no matter how imperfect our democratic process might or might not be it is still a privilege to vote. A privilege my great-grandparents never had the opportunity to enjoy.

Yes Zuma, Maimane, Malema, Lekota, Prince Buthulezi, Zanele, Godi and the Mulders will come to mind, as will local leaders. But I will also think of Madiba, Oliver, Walter, Albertina, Helen, Frederick, Dullah, Kader, Ashley and the many others who had to pay a prize for me to enjoy this responsibility.

I will take a moment and think of the many challenges in my community and who can address it best.

I will think of human rights, freedom of expression, speech, the press and association. I will think of the rights of minorities, celebrating ethnic diversity and a dream of social cohesion. I will think of poverty, social challenges like drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV, youth unemployment and even the stigma against my LGBTI (gay) friends.

I will also think of peace and hope that you too will use your vote wisely.

Enjoy the responsibility to vote. Vote with pride and walk out of the polling station knowing that you did the right thing.

It is all about the cross!

Original Opinion Piece appeared in Paarl Post of Thursday 28 July 2016

Jou kruisie is belangrik

Op 3 Augustus sal meer as 26 miljoen van my medelandsburgers die geleentheid kry om hul kruisie te maak. 

Ons sal die geleentheid kry om ’n politieke party en wykskandidaat te kies om ons te verteenwoordig en hul beloftes na te kom.

Wanneer my keuse gemaak is, sal ek met die kollektiewe besluit – wie my wyk en munisipale gebied gaan regeer – moet aanvaar.

Dit is daarom belangrik dat wanneer ek my kruisie maak, ek dit met trots doen en my stem slim gebruik.

Net minder as 50 000 van die meer as 3 miljoen kiesers in die Wes-Kaap is tussen 18 en 19 en sal vir die eerste keer hul kruisie maak. Hulle sal kan kies uit ’n rekord 200 politieke partye en 61 014 kandidate wat in die munisipale verkiesing meeding. Dit is sowat 65% meer politieke partye en 12% meer kandidate as vyf jaar gelede in 2011.

Talle kenners noem dit die belangrikste verkiesing sedert daai allerbelangrike 1994 een. Tog is alle verkiesings belangrik en wat vanjaar se plaaslike verkiesing interessant maak is om te sien of kiesers volgens hul behoeftes of volgens lojaliteit sal stem. Dit natuurlik as jy dink aan wat die afgelope twee tot vyf jaar gebeur het.

Ons stem is egter meer as ’n geleentheid, dit is ’n verantwoordelikheid wat ons toegang gee tot die reg om ons openbare verteenwoordigers verantwoordbaar te hou. Ons stem is nie net vyf minute werd nie, maar inderdaad vyf jaar. Vyf jaar om diegene vir wie ons kies verantwoordelik te hou om in die gemeenskap se basiese behoeftes te voorsien.

Die afgelope paar maande moes ons talle diensleweringbetogings in die land aanskou. Nes geen mens perfek is nie, is ook geen party perfek nie en bevat elkeen sy eie struikelblokke.

Rassisme, kwotas in sport, korrupsie, private stralers, spy tapes en talle ander sake is belangrik.

Maar wat ons baie keer vergeet is om realistiese oplossings op die agenda te plaas wat die daaglikse bestaan van veral die armes raak.

Terwyl ons worry oor ’n nuwe jet vir die president of ’n rassistiese post op sosiale media, is daar ’n ouma wat omsien na haar vyf kleinkinders en wonder waar gaan sy môreaand se ete kry. Terwyl ons kwotas in sport bespreek, het die ouers van ’n talentvolle jong sportspeler nie die geld om eens oefenklere vir daardie speler te koop nie.

Ja, hierdie verkiesing is nes die vorige en dié wat sal kom, belangrik.

Hierdie munisipale verkiesing is ’n geleentheid vir die kieser om vir hul behoeftes te stem, om te stem vir wie ’n regte verandering in hul lewe sal maak en nie net een op papier of ’n poster nie.

Wanneer ek in die stemlokaal gaan en my stembriewe vashou – staan ek alleen. Ek sal my asem ophou en dink aan ongeag hoe onvolmaak ons demokratiese proses mag wees of nie, dit bly ’n voorreg vir my om my kruisie te maak. ’n Voorreg wat my grootouers nooit gehad en kon geniet het nie.

Ja, ek sal dink aan wat Zuma, Maimane, Malema, Lekota, Buthulezi, Zanele, Godi en die Mulders gesê het, asook beloftes van plaaslike leiers. Maar ek sal ook dink aan Madiba, Oliver, Walter, Albertina, Helen, Dullah, Kader, Ashley en die talle ander wat ’n duur prys betaal het vir my om hierdie verantwoordelikheid te geniet.

Ek sal ’n oomblik neem en dink aan die talle uitdagings in my gemeenskap en wie in my mening die beste dit kan aanspreek.

Ek sal dink aan menseregte, vryheid van spraak, die media, vryheid om aan ’n organisasie van my keuse te behoort. Ek sal ook dink aan die regte van minderheidsgroepe, diversiteit en ’n droom van samehorigheid.

Ek sal met die stembriewe in my hand ook dink aan armoede, maatskaplike uitdagings soos dwelmmisbruik, tienerswangerskap, MIV, werkloosheid, bendegeweld en die stigma teen my LGBTI (gay) vriende.

Ek sal dink aan vrede en hoop dat jy ook jou stem wys sal gebruik.

Geniet die verantwoordelikheid om te stem. Stem met trots en loop by die stembus weg met die wete dat jy die regte ding gedoen het.

Dit gaan oor jou kruisie!

• Oorspronklike rubriek het in Paarl Post van Donderdag 28 Julie 2016 verskyn.

Jeug, die baanbrekers van ontwikkeling

Jippie, dit is Jeugmaand! Maar het ons regtig iets om te vier?

Daar word gesê een uit vier jongmense is werkloos. Ons land se werkloosheidsyfer vir die eerste kwartaal van 2016 was 26,7% waarvan ’n groot deel – meer as 50% – jeugdiges is.

Ons is op die vooraand van Jeugdagvieringe waar ons onthou hoe honderde jongmense in 1976 opgestaan het vir dít wat hulle geglo het is reg en regverdig.

Ek kan nie help om myself af te vra nie – het hulle toe nie maar net die battle gewen nie, terwyl die oorlog voortduur?

Bendegeweld beheer ons gemeenskappe en vir so baie het dit al ’n comfort zone geword. As jy nie ’n kind voor 21 het nie, is jy nie cool nie, of die nuwe sêding is “jou kind gaan jou ouma noem”. Voorts word dwelms ook geëet soos ek lekkers kou.

Maar alles is nie verlore nie. Verlede jaar het ons die jaar van studente gesien, van

#RhodesMustFall tot #FeesMust-Fall. Jongmense het, soos 40 jaar gelede, opgestaan en sterk gestaan, van kampusse tot op die stoep van die parlement.

Hulle het die sekretaris-generaal van die ANC gedwing om op die teer saam met hulle voor Luthuli-huis te sit en Tata Madiba moes toekyk hoe duisende op die grasperk buite die Uniegebou byeenkom en aandring dat aan hul eise voldoen word.

Hier staan ons nou weer voor Jeugdag en talle gaan sê hoe belangrik die jeug is en watter belangrike rol ons jongmense speel in organisasies, ons kerke en die gemeenskappe. Die woorde sal verskil, maar almal se boodskap sal dieselfde wees: die jeug van vandag staar talle uitdagings in die gesig.

Dis geen geheim dat ons jeug uitdagings het nie, maar kan ons dit regtig nog sê? Is ons nie veronderstel om liefs met realistiese voorstelle na vore te kom nie?

Voorstelle waar ons die uitdagings aanpak, pleks van kyk wie gaan dit oplos.

Ons jeug is goed in tegnologie. Kan vir ure in ’n laptop, tablet of selfoonskerm vaskyk en nog ander take verrig aka multi-tasking.

Tog is ons ’n sogenaamde verlore generasie, ’n confused generasie. Ons is onseker omdat sommige sê daar is nie geleenthede nie, terwyl daar tog baie is, maar ons nie kan besluit watter een nie.

Baie reken dit is cool om vriende te volg, maar dink nie vir hulself nie. 

Ons dink wat ons sien, hoor en wat ons ouers en grootouers moes deurmaak, ook met ons moet gebeur. Ons is baie keer te gemaklik in ons gemaksone en bang of onseker om daaruit te styg.

Van ’n vroeë ouderdom af, word ons geleer wat is reg en verkeerd en dit behoort ons almal snags wakker te hou dat so baie jongmense die verkeerde bo die regte kies. Daar is geen kitsoplossing vir die uitdagings nie en die antwoorde lê by ons as individue.

As gemeenskappe verenig ons by groot sportbyeenkomste; kom ons verenig ook vir ons uitdagings.

Wyle oudpresident Nelson Mandela het eenkeer gesê “jongmense reik uit na ander om ’n eenvoudige toekoms te bou. Dit verg emosionele volwassenheid en morele krag”.

Ons verlede is belangrik omdat dit ons leer waarvandaan ons kom. Ons moet daaruit leer, maar ons moet ook in die hede werk om na die toekoms te beweeg.

Tata Madiba se woorde slaan dus die spyker op sy kop. Jongmense is uniek op hul eie manier en hulle reik uit. As ’n samelewing neig ons baie keer om dit nie raak te sien nie, om ons jeug te kritiseer, ons jeug te verwerp, af te skryf en die ou gunsteling, te veroordeel.

By ’n jeugsaamtrek ’n dekade gelede het Mandela gesê “jongmense moet baanbrekers van die heropbou en ontwikkeling word.

Deur die jeug se voorbeeld sal daar gehelp word dat Suid-Afrika die land van ons drome word’.

Die bou van die toekoms waarvan Madiba praat verg die morele krag, waardes en emosionele volwassenheid van ons almal deur ons jeug te aanvaar en erkenning, inligting, opvoeding, motivering en aanmoediging te bied.

This is Caylum's story...

In my TOF support group is Samantha and Wayne, parents of little Caylym. As a support group we are trying to raise awareness and get support for not only Caylum but many other babies who are not as lucky as I was.

This is Caylum’s story, please read it, and by sharing it you doing your bit by help creating awareness.

Caylum Willemse, diagnosed with tracheobronchomalaciam, was born on 12 January with Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) and oesophageal atresia (OA). 

Tracheo-oesophageal fistula is an abnormal connection between the oesophagus and the trachea. 

Oesophageal atresia is when the oesophagus develops in two parts, meaning food cannot reach the stomach. If associated with TOF, fluid can leak into the lungs causing pneumonia. 

This rare birth defect meant he had to go for life saving surgery the next morning. The doctor that did the operation did an awesome job and in two weeks Caylum went home. The joy of his parents was short lived. Caylum started having what his mom calls choking spells or blue spell. On one occasion he was rushed to the hospital and had no heartbeat. He was stabalised after an hour and transferred to Clinton hospital where they did a bronchoscope and saw he had severe trachiamalacia and would have to go for surgery or next time we wouldn't be so lucky again.

Caylum went for the operation and recovered well and once again 2 weeks later was sent home. Things went well for about a week until his mom started noticing he sounds a lot worse at night after he was fed. His doctor was consulted and was assured it is normal for a TOF baby to make those sounds. 

Shortly there-after another incident happened where Caylum wasn't breathing and had no heartbeat. At hospital they managed to revive him and was put on a osculatory ventilator because he had milk in the lungs. 

Long story short the problem is the tracheamalacia, but only a few cases are to the extend that the trachea collapse from the back and they have now picked up he also has bronchomalacia. 

Dr. Russel Jennings from the Boston Children's Hospital did an operation in America, called a posterior tracheopexy, with a high success rate. Currently some local doctors are doing research on this procedure but no one is willing to perform the operation. 

In the last month he had to be resuscitated three times as his condition is getting worse. 

His parents don't have the necessary finances to take him to Boston and their prayer now is for dr. Jennings to get the necessary documentation and permission to come to the country and do the operation but also for local doctors to learn from it and more angels be saved.

His parents created this Facebook-page and YouTube channel.