GOOD Media Statement by Brett Herron
GOOD: Secretary-General
04 November 2021
When ruling parties approach their sell-by dates, official oppositions usually benefit.
But not in South Africa, where an unprecedented number of newer and/or smaller entities, arrogantly dismissed by some as non-entities, combined to give both the ANC and the DA bloody noses in the local government elections – including in the City of Cape Town where the DA majority was slashed by 8%.
In the process, the propaganda that people supporting newer or smaller parties were wasting their votes was effectively buried – while pre-election predictions that South Africans have lost faith in the old parties and are searching for better alternatives were confirmed.
Contesting its first municipal elections, the GOOD Party is proud to have established a firm foothold among this new generation of players rising to fill space vacated by the decaying old parties that are rapidly running out of integrity and ideas.
From a zero base, GOOD is now the third biggest party in the Western Cape, and the fourth largest in Cape Town, having secured more votes than several established parties. The party is also pleased to have gained toeholds in the Tshwane, Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay, Sundays River and Sol Plaatjie municipalities, in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape
These are remarkable results considering that GOOD was established, on a shoestring budget, less than three years ago. The fact that the party is already represented at all three levels of government – now including 43 seats on various Councils – bears powerful testimony to South Africans’ search for fresh solutions.
Over the next few days, GOOD will be considering its position in respect of various hung councils in the Western Cape to determine whether it will better serve voters by forming coalitions or providing constructive opposition.
GOOD wishes to acknowledge every single one of its members, officials, volunteers, staff, candidates and supporters in all the provinces, cities, towns and wards that the party contested seats in this week’s election. We are proud to have fought a good and honest fight.
GOOD also acknowledges the role of other new political entities, including local and regional community structures, and independents, which have demonstrated the growing power of the underdog in South African politics.
GOOD members reporting for work as newly-elected councillors, please remember our contract with voters: Lend us your votes, and if we under-perform use your power to take them away and invest them in the next election in someone who may prove worthier of being a public representative.
GOOD views the fact that the DA was not able to capitalise on growing electoral disdain for the ANC in the Western Cape strongly suggests that voters are finally beginning to abandon the old binary choice: Black or white, rich or poor, yellow or blue.
Breaking down inherited racial and spatial divisions are key elements of GOOD’s policy offering.
GOOD will continue to grow.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Karabo Tledima, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 061 794 3819
Email: karabot@forgood.org.za