An Evening with John Steenhuisen MP

The 2016 Local Government Election is upon us. This election is extremely important for the future of South Africa, and we can ensure you that we are working tirelessly to ensure that not only the City of Cape Town stays blue, but that we are given the chance to govern other metros in other provinces.

In preparation and as a fundraiser, the DA Ward 57 branch will be hosting a get together with DA Chief Whip, the Hon. Steenhuisen, at 18h30 on 15 July 2016 at La Bottega, Woodstock – 160 Sir Lowry Road.  Here you will hear about the inspiring plans the DA has for achieving what we all deserve in South Africa.

If you haven’t seen John Steenhuisen in action, follow this link, and then book your ticket!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyVuke1x9DQ

Way to go Ward 57

Yet another Ward 57 success. A perfect venue, great food, and a rousing speech from John made for an enjoyable political evening.  The DA has the policy, it has the people now you as the voter must turn out on the 3rd to give us the votes.

Some photos:

An evening with John Steenhuisen 1

An evening with John Steenhuisen 2

An evening with John Steenhuisen 3

and some more on https://www.facebook.com/da.woodstock.1/

2016 Senior citizens event

Monday the 7th of March saw many seniors from a number of retirement homes and social groups from around the ward – including Arcadia, Nazareth House, the Marian Institute and the Woodstock and Salt River Health Committees catching buses to the 2016 senior citizens outing hosted by Councillors Brett Herron and Paddy Chapple at Sea Point Pavilion.

It was a beautiful day which saw some of the seniors braving a relatively cold swimming pool. Games were played, friendships renewed and lunch was eaten, before everyone caught their lifts home, to reflect upon yet another enjoyable event, as can be seen from the photos (Click to open full size images).

Ward 57s new boundaries

Due to population shift and a number of reasons to numerous and involved to go into, the Municipal Demarcation Board has had to revise ward boundaries for the 2016 Municipal Elections.  As a consequence, Ward 57s boundaries have taken what we could call a jump to the right back – geospatially speaking.  As a result, we have:

Lost the following two voting districts: Chapel Street (now part of new Ward 115) and Nazareth House (now part of Ward 77), and

Gained the following two voting districts:  Bishops Prep and Rhodes High School

This re-arrangement will be communicated to voters in the coming months, as the appropriate measures are implemented, but for a start, if you are curious, and actually you should be given that this is an election year, click on the image of the  interactive map below to see where/if you are still registered in Ward 57:

New Ward 57 boundaries

Ward 57

Rocco de Villiers

ROCCO DE VILLIERS – ALL ABOUT THE PIANO
Don’t miss this year’s Ward 57 annual fundraiser which sees the return of the popular pianist Rocco de Villiers to the Theatre on the Bay on Thursday 3rd December @8 pm. Rocco’s latest instrumental show, has as its star of the night – the piano – at centre stage.

ALL ABOUT THE PIANO pays tribute to the most popular instrument of all, and is a celebration of beautiful melodies. Some sentimental, some nostalgic, some modern, some shockingly old –fashioned, some quirky, some funny,  and some serious, tragic and sad – but always beautiful, personal and very entertaining.

Women’s Economic Empowerment Event

Photos of the successful and well attended WARD 57 – DAWN WOMEN’S DAY EVENT held on the 25 of July at the Double Tree Hilton in Woodstock.

For the original details, invite and photos …

Breakfast with Mmusi Maimane

Yesterday Ward 57 had the pleasure to host a breakfast at The Kitchen in Woodstock  for around 30 invited guests who met, chatted with and listened to DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane MP, discuss his thoughts, ideas, and insights about South Africa. In a wide ranging speech the following points stand out:

On the ANC: After 20 years in power its leadership has lost the plot, lacks political will or effective leadership and does not respect the Constitution or the institutions of state which are meant to protect the fundamental rights of citizens.  Preferring rather to subvert them to defend their own entrenched interests.

Opposition role: The DA is in for the long haul, as we understand the importance of democratic principles and the need to protect and uphold them as an effective opposition.  This goes beyond grandstanding and means taking the government to task if necessary on a wide array of issues – education, defence, spending, corruption, Eskom – backed up by research.

Corruption: In the budget R9 billion was raised by increasing taxation – R30 billion alone has been lost with corruption, Government should be looking at corruption, and cutting down on wasteful spending.

Waiting to go in

Reflections in Sir Lowry Road

A guest, Mmusi and Zakhele Mbhele

A long breakfast table

The Kitchen is a wonderful place

Education:  It is the only way for the youth to become employable, youth unemployment is the highest it has ever been and current education policies are failing them miserably.

Power to the People

Stalwarts spent a few hours manning an information table and handing out pamphlets outside Obs Quick Spar in Station Road to bring home the point that Resolving SA’s electricity crisis starts with breaking Eskom’s monopoly.

A quorum

Rest of quorum

It’s all blue

It is unsustainable for 95% of our electricity to come from Eskom, a state-owned entity characterized by mismanagement. Our economy cannot grow without a stable power supply. It is estimated that 10% of potential economic growth totalling R300 billion has been lost since 2008 due to electricity supply constraints.

2015 Senior citizens event

Friday 13th of February saw over 100 seniors from a number of retirement homes and social groups from around the ward – including Arcadia, Nazareth House, the Marian Institute and the Woodstock and Salt River Health Committees catching buses to the 2015 senior citizens picnic hosted by Councillors Brett Herron and Paddy Chapple at the Green Point Urban Park which lies adjacent to the Cape Town Stadium.

The weather did not quite play along yet failed to dampen both the spirits of the seniors or the natural beauty of the setting. Lunch was eaten, an informative lecture was given and Valentine’s Day gifts were distributed by Brett. A truly enjoyable morning was had by all, as can be seen from the photos (Click to open full size images).

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

The Sound of Laughter

Weeeaaarrre Baaaaaack: Ward 57 and Alan Committie  will be back on Friday 5th December at the Theatre on the Bay for this year’s Ward fundraiser.  Starring the irrepressible One Man Committee of
 Comedy,  Alan Committie is bound to have us in stitches as, well … Julie Andrews (???) in The Sound of Laughter and a whole host of mad persona including:

• Selfies to Christmas Elfies,
• Banting whilst bunting,
• The final say on the Pistorius trial, and
• A beautifully nuanced recreation of The Sound of Music – in 8 minutes

Office move

Observatory Community Centre

In June the Constituency Office moved from Station Road to the Observatory Community Centre on the corner of Rawson and Collingwood Roads Observatory.

Manned by Councillor Paddy Chapple and Naz it is an advice office which is open from 7.30 to 12:00 every day and has the following telephone number: 021 447 9029