Bettie Lawens unveiled as DA mayoral candidate for Inxuba Yethemba

The Democratic Alliance has named Councillor Bettie Lawens as its mayoral candidate for Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, with party leaders citing her decade of council experience and community ties as key to reviving the struggling municipality.

DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader Andrew Whitfield MP made the announcement on Tuesday at Sonskyn Hall in Nxuba, formerly Cradock, where Lawens formally accepted the nomination.

“Drawing on a decade of experience as a public representative and a deep connection to the community she serves, she did not hesitate to accept this responsibility,” Whitfield said.

Born in Nxuba, Lawens began her public career in local media, where she covered service delivery failures affecting residents.

“Realising she could make a greater impact from within, she decided to take her fight to council,” Whitfield said.

Lawens joined the DA and was elected as a proportional representative councillor in the 2016 Local Government Elections. She later stood as ward councillor for Ward 4 ahead of the 2021 elections and was re-elected to council.

Whitfield said her ten years in council had given her extensive institutional knowledge of the municipality’s governance, structures and operations.

“Bettie is a DA stalwart in Inxuba Yethemba and is a trusted voice in the community across all wards, known for fighting to turn the fortunes of this collapsing municipality around,” he said.

The DA said Lawens will campaign on service delivery, safety and job creation.

“Her dedication to the community and commitment to transparency and ethical leadership are the reasons why we are proud to have Bettie stand as our Mayoral Candidate,” Whitfield said. “She will focus on service delivery, safety and job creation by creating a well-run municipality and attracting more investment.”

Whitfield added that the party is ready to contest the municipality.

“With Bettie as our Mayoral Candidate, the DA is ready to bring service delivery and clean governance to the municipality and get Inxuba Yethemba working,” he said.