The Democratic Alliance (DA) has officially announced Mokete Motsamai as its mayoral candidate for Lesedi Municipality ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections.
The announcement was made on Friday at the Ratanda Community Hall in Heidelberg, where party supporters and community members gathered to hear the DA’s plans for the municipality.
Speaking shortly after being unveiled as the party’s candidate, Motsamai promised improved governance, better service delivery and greater accountability if elected into office. He said his leadership would focus on engaging communities directly and responding to residents’ concerns.
“Residents told me about frequent water interruptions and the daily uncertainty of whether there will be water,” Motsamai said.
“This is not how people should live. Access to water is a basic need and a basic right. As executive mayor, stabilising the water supply and fixing our water infrastructure will be a clear priority.”
Motsamai also raised concerns about crime targeting homeowners in surrounding areas, saying safety would be another key focus of his administration.
He further highlighted infrastructure challenges in KwaZenzele, where residents complained about the lack of proper roads.
“Residents I met say they feel neglected when it comes to service delivery,” he added.
Lesedi Municipality, which includes Heidelberg, Ratanda and surrounding areas, has traditionally been an African National Congress (ANC) stronghold. In the 2016 local government elections, the ANC secured an outright majority with approximately 62 percent of the vote.
However, the party’s support declined in the 2021 elections to just over 50 percent, narrowly retaining control of the council. The drop in support has been linked to ongoing service delivery challenges and growing dissatisfaction with local governance.
The DA hopes the shrinking margin will create an opportunity to increase its presence in the municipality and potentially wrest control from the ANC in the upcoming elections.
