The ANC in the Eastern Cape has pinned its hopes on a 20-year-old Afrikaner who loves wearing vellies.
Christiaan Hendrik Nicolaas Carstens, of Jeffreys Bay in the Kouga municipality, is the ANC’s hope to snatch Ward 8 from the DA, which romped to a victory in the ward in the 2016 polls with 96.6% of the vote.
He said he had joined the ANC due to its proud legacy, role in liberating SA and efforts in improving the lives of millions of South Africans.
“I believe in a national democratic society and want to be part of a truly non-racist, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous SA,” he said.
“As a white, Afrikaans-speaking young man I want to show and live my willingness to work towards this goal with whoever has the same vision,” he said.
Carstens is a first-year student at Unisa.
He said throughout the world there had been growing levels of inequality, sometimes obscenely so, between the rich and poor.
“One only has to read Oxfam [Oxford Committee for Famine Relief] reports, among others, on the injustices of poverty.
“I, for example, strongly believe in a health system accessible to all South Africans such as the National Health Insurance — not only to those with the means to afford medical aid.
He said, however, the system had to be run with the utmost discipline, efficiency, and passion for the people.
“Corruption, in such a system, and others, must be eradicated vigorously — something I believe the ANC is capable of if it puts its mind and actions to it.”
He will face-off against the DA’s Reinhardt Foley for control of the ward, which includes Upper Wavecrest, Kabeljous and surrounds.
“The ward in which I am standing has been a 95%-plus DA ward.
“I hope to make a dent in that statistic and know that any vote for the ANC in this ward will contribute to the overall public representative votes for the ANC,” he said.
In 2016, the ANC managed to get 0.59% of the vote.
Carstens said he hoped to bring change to the people by working towards a more prosperous, healthy, efficient, and hopeful society.
“The importance of young people joining politics [is that] young people must take their destiny into their own hands, and through politics they have that chance,” he said.
Sarah Baartman regional chair Scara Njadayi said the history and evolution of the ANC always allowed young people to find a place and express themselves.
“I became a regional secretary at a young age and the youth rejuvenates policy positions.”
He said the interaction between the young and old was crucial for the ANC’s survival.
“It is one of the reasons we introduced more young people as councillor candidates to correlate the aspirations of the young voters,” Njadayi said.
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