Seeking votes in Western Cape

By Martin Plaut
BBC, Khayelitsha

The change in Khayelitsha could be decisive for Western Cape region

For a decade, the giant squatter camp of Khayelitsha on the outskirts of Cape Town has been a stronghold for the African National Congress.

The area is home to around 700,000 migrants from the Eastern Cape.

The migrants, who mostly arrived after the ending of apartheid in 1994, have been staunch ANC loyalists.

But that is now beginning to change.

Although the area is still decorated with ANC posters and murals, the opposition Democratic Alliance is beginning to erode the ruling party's support.

We are raising issues of ANC corruption... And people respond to us Masizole Nnqasela Democratic Alliance councillor

Masizole Nnqasela, a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor in the area, says his party - which previously drew most support from liberal whites - is gaining strength.

"Our constitution guarantees us the right to choose who to support," he tells voters.

"We are raising issues of ANC corruption.

"We say the ANC is negligent on crime. And people respond to us."

But the ANC's support will not be easily eroded.

One of their Councillors, Clifford Sitonga, said the challenge of the DA was to be welcomed.

"This is a deepening of our democracy," he said.

"It shows that our democracy is working."

Free drugs

Judging from the support he received at a meeting of around 50 people in one of his wards, Councillor Sitonga is right not to be over-concerned.

All were keen to question him closely on when they would receive new homes, and how many would have to leave the area as their shacks were demolished.

The ANC is not over-concerned about eroding support

But most seemed willing to give the ANC the benefit of the doubt, even though proper houses have been promised for a decade, and these people have yet to see them being built.

But the DA's attack on the party's record, and particularly criticism of the equivocal attitude of President Thabo Mbeki towards the problem of HIV and Aids has hit home.

The DA's promise of free anti-retroviral drugs for all is certainly popular.

Masizole Nnqasela accepts that winning votes in Khayelitsha will be a slow process, but he believes the party will up its share of Wednesday's poll in this area from 2% in 1999 to over 10%.

If he is right, that change could be decisive in the Western Cape.

The area is currently run by an alliance of the ANC and the New National Party.

A rise in black support for the DA could mean that they snatch control of the region.