Registration costs of approximately R1,800 put independent candidates at a disadvantage compared with political parties, which reportedly pay about R46 to register a candidate, Ward 11 independent candidate Themba Zweni said. The financial demands begin before campaigning even starts, with additional expenses including posters, transport between voting districts and recruiting volunteers.

“It’s before your campaign costs. That’s the first thing you have to do, and that’s why I’m saying it’s a major challenge. Now you have to pay for posters, go around and visit different voting districts.

“You have to have volunteers. I am fortunate that my organisation (MCC) had promised to support independent candidates, and they are providing that support. They are providing volunteers to assist independent candidates,” he said.

Some good Samaritans have also committed financial support because they believe in his dedication to serving residents, Zweni said. He remains chairperson of the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC), a pressure group representing residents that has previously staged protests and demanded accountability from local and provincial government over service delivery, maladministration and tender processes.

The organisation believes he represents residents effectively and could do a better job than current councillors by being directly accountable to the community, Zweni said. Political party interests often take precedence over residents’ concerns in local government, while independent councillors have a more direct relationship with the communities that elect them, he argued.

“What has been a problem in local government for all these years is that political party interests now take precedence. It is now more important to push political issues than push political interest.

“An independent candidate is different from a party candidate for this reason: an independent candidate accounts directly to the community that elected him. He does not have to go through caucuses. He takes the message from the municipality directly to the community and from the community directly to the municipality,” Zweni said.

The financial challenges facing independent candidates remain a concern, particularly for those without the resources and organisational support available to established political parties, he said. Financial assistance could help the 10 independent candidates contesting the elections in Mangaung reach more voters and strengthen their campaigns, Zweni added, appealing to good Samaritans for sponsorship.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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