ANC regional chairperson of the Namakwa region Mervin Cloete urged the newly elected regional leadership to prioritise local procurement and infrastructure spend for local companies, SMME’s, cooperatives and local entrepreneurs.
The Namakwa region held their regional conference at the Namakwa guest farm in Springbok on May 14-15.
Cloete called upon the new leadership to respond to the needs of the people and general membership to prevent the public losing trust in the organisation.
“The elected REC must urgently develop a programme to assist with the acceleration of the radical phase of our transformation and ensure that the regional economy becomes inclusive and benefit the disadvantaged and historically marginalised.”
He identified the Namakwa Special Economic Zone, Port Nolloth Harbour Development and the Pofadder Zinc Mining Development as vehicles for radical economic transformation.
Cloete instructed the regional leadership to undertake a work study on the viability of local municipalities since many had reduced their tax base and the number of provinces were reduced.
ANC provincial chairperson Dr Zamani Saul urged the region to appoint ward councillors who were “fit for purpose”.
He added that the region was previously dissolved due to ”ill discipline” where the district was led by a regional task team up until the regional conference.
“ANC councillors and ANC members connived with the opposition to undermine the ANC provincial executive committee regarding the deployment of the district mayor.”
ANC Top 5: Namakwa region
Chairperson: Mervin Cloete
Deputy chairperson: Ricky Ambrosini
Secretary: Alinda Beukes
Deputy secretary: Stella Cloete
Treasurer: Riaan Cloete
Additional members
Pasqueline van Heerden
Aurelia Josop
Geraldine Gous
Bennie Cloete
Hannelie Wilschutte
Roger Swartz
Milishia Nero
Iris Oermeyer
Joslin Cloete
Willem Links
Annelisa Minnies
Giel Klaasen
JF Basson
Melvin Cloete
Susarah Nero
Gillian Pieters
Thapelo Sekia
Jeremy Davids
Promise Nyanda
Kenneth Christiaans