When Ward 60’s residents go to the polls to vote for their local government representatives on Wednesday August 3, a familiar face will be missing from the ward election ballot sheet.
The area’s councillor for the past two terms, Anthea Green, will not be standing for re-election in this year’s municipal election, with Mark Kleinschmidt, a Kenwyn resident and regular contributor to Athlone News’ letters page, replacing her as the DA’s candidate for Ward 60.
He is one of 18 candidates, who all represent political parties (as opposed to standing as independent candidates)contesting the ward in next month’s election. The other candidates are Khaled Samodien, of the Africa Muslim Party, Marcus John Haupt of the African Christian Democratic Party; Nwabisa Catherine Bonxo of the African National Congress, Noorjan Allie of the Al Jama-ah party; Abduragiem Abderoef of the Al Shura Party; Yagyah Adams of the Cape Muslim Congress; Jack Lawrence Miller representing the Cape Party, Mahomed Farouk Cassim of the Congress of the People, Nelisa Thandolwethu Mbane of the Economic Freedom Fighters; Ashleigh Noble of the Independent Civic Organisation; Achmat Williams of the National Party South Africa; Michelle Maria Calitz of the National People’s Party; Leanda Samuel Yekani of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Ismail Davids of the Sizwe Ummah Nation and Patrick Bernard Melly of the Vryheidsfront Plus.
Mr Kleinschmidt, who started Mitchell’s Plain’s Radio Plain, in 1985, was principal of Die Duine Primary School in Lotus River, from 1995 to 1998 and in 2010 he was elected as one of 24 role models to be featured in the book called Mitchell’s Plain, a place in the sun. In 2010 he was elected by Trevor Manuel to serve as a trustee of the Mitchell’s Plain Bursary and Role Model Trust, which he served for three years. He is also the lay minister and parish warden at the St Philip’s Angligan Church in Kenwyn.
He is currently a member of the City of Cape Town’s planning and appeals committee and the deputy chairperson of the energy and environmental spatial planning committee.
Mr Kleinschmidt said the main priorities in the area are effective service delivery, to stimulate job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities, and foster a relationship with all community organisations.
“I am a hands-on person. One of my good qualities are listening to people, and responding to residents complaints. Councillor Green has done a fantastic job and I will build on the foundation that she has laid,” said Mr Kleinschmidt.
blob Ward 60 includes Athlone – south of Klipfontein Road, east of Kromboom Parkway, north of Mosman Road and west of First Avenue, Belthorn Estate – south-east of Lawson Road, north-east of Rokery Road and west of Jan Smuts Street, Crawford -south of Kromboom Road, west of Jan Smuts Road, north of Kendal Road and east of railway, Flamingo Crescent, Lansdowne, Rondebosch East, and Sybrand Park.
