The Democratic Alliance’s Jonathan Mills jumped for joy after winning the Ward 107 by-election on Wednesday with 94,07% of the total votes cast.
The vacancy opened after the resignation of the previous ward councillor, Nicolette Rheeder.
Rheeder, who is also the Subcouncil 1 chair, and her family will be relocating to the Netherlands, where she hopes to finish her studies in sociology.
Ward 107 covers parts of Table View, Sunningdale and Parklands.
The by-election was contested by candidates from the following political parties: the African National Congress (Buntu Gwija), Cape Independence Party (Debbie Arnelda Campbell), Democratic Alliance (Jonathan Scott Mills), Economic Freedom Fighters (Cameron Michael Summer) and The Organic Humanity Movement (Khotso Lebakeng).
According to the Electoral Commission (IEC), special votes were cast between 08:00 and 17:00 on Tuesday 27 June by voters who had applied and were approved for special votes. All voting stations were opened between 07:00 and 09:00 on Election Day Wednesday 28 June.
“The total number of registered voters in Ward 107 is 20 305, with the overall voter turnout in the by election at 21,39% reflecting the 4 344 votes cast. This turnout is lower than the voter turnout of 54,91% in Local Government elections, 2021,” the IEC says in a statement.
Getting to know the new councillor
Mills is now a resident of Blouberg and started his career as a marketing manager for EMEA. As part of his job, he travelled to different countries to promote a specialist medicine management clinical software suite for state-run acute and dispensing PC facilities.
He is currently the owner and founder of CareCompany Benefit Trust. This trust addresses loneliness among the elderly, and poor pay care for care workers.
Mills is also the chair of the False Bay Hospital Trust and deputy chair of the hospital board.
He has been involved in presenting planning appeals to the Mayoral committee on behalf of the Noordhoek ratepayers, organising a World Wetlands Day clean up in the Noordhoek wetlands, hands-in fire relief in coordination with the disaster management and donation drives for “go-bags” to give victims of GBV, who choose to escape their home environment.
“We must continue the good work being done in the ward. Contact crime is a concern. I will work together with the law enforcement, metro police, the police, NHW and CPF to continue in the fight to curb crime. We need eyes and ears everywhere and I will continue to empower our NHW structures with resources.
“Where land is illegally occupied, I will work with the City’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit to act swiftly. Where the land has already been occupied or belongs to national government, I will work with City’s legal services to drive eviction application.
“Illegal dumping is an issue in our ward. Officials are effective in response to the community. I will work with law enforcement to target those responsible for dumping with the maximum consequences the laws permit. There is sewage overflow from the pump stations due to load shedding and this has an impact on our local beaches. A budget has been allocated for pump station generators. I will ensure that the generators are installed and maintained.
“I will continue to serve all the residents of Ward 107. I have a long track record of activism in this City and will ensure that you receive the best services,” says Mills.
