THE DA’s Angus McKenzie whose “cringeworthy” videos elicited mix comments on social media has retained his ward, Bonteheuwel.
McKenzie’s home-made video campaign portrayed his answers to Bonteheuwel’s gangsterism and abject poverty. This included him taking on supernatural powers from Dragon Ball fighting tactics to Superman’s strength to address crime and a lack of sanitation.
His first video, which had tongues wagging, showed a gun-toting gangster lurking in a corner, a frustrated woman who opens a tap but there’s no water. Then a man sitting on a toilet tries to flush but there is no water.
Two other videos followed with the last portraying a young McKenzie being bullied and then fast-forwards to Councillor McKenzie in 2021 who stands up to his bullies with flame balls emanating from of his hands as a super-power.
McKenzie credited his win to his track-record as the incumbent over the last five years but said the videos did not hurt either as they portrayed the realities of his community.
“I did not have a campaign strategy in mind, the videos were just a graphic display of the challenges faced by the community,” he told Weekend Argus.
“I think the videos were relatable to the people as well, I often walk around and hear youngsters singing to the Ghostbusters’ tunes and I wanted to speak to the issues that concerns the community.”
McKenzie said he was happy with the voter turnout and his ability to win back the ward with a big margin. McKenzie retained his ward with a 63.6% support with over 9 000 votes in his favour, 8 000 votes more than Cape Coloured Congress which came in second.
“What was encouraging was the diverse voters we were able to draw to the polls, we had young voters and the elderly who came out to vote,” he added.
“And the voters came out because of the level of service delivery they received. And from the results one can see that we smashed the opposition parties.
“This for me is a testament of the work we have put in over the last five years, there are over 200 WhatsApp groups we had with different communities, we respond whenever we are needed and that is what the voters voted for.”
But his his victory elicited mix feelings which left many viewers either cringing or laughing at the antics portrayed.
One Facebook user commented that she needed to take a mental health day. “Trying to wrap my head around the fact that those who voted yesterday have seemingly voted the DA back into power in the Western Cape ... How is it that residents who live in backyard dwellings while this DA led government under spends on housing still cast their vote for the DA? How does residents of Bonteheuwel choose Angus McKenzie over a tried and tested community activist like Henriette Abrahams ?”