{
  "id": 16098154,
  "title": "LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: A red beret in the Deep South — meet the EFF’s unlikely ward candidate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/local-elections-2026-a-red-beret-in-the-deep-south-meet-the-effs",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-22T20:06:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-22-a-red-beret-in-the-deep-south-meet-the-effs-unlikely-ward-candidate/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gabrielle Maritz, a candidate for Cape Town Ward 61 in the 2026 local elections, is the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s councillor candidate for the area along the coast from Glencairn to Kommetjie. Born in Pretoria, Maritz has lived in various countries, including Ireland and Portugal, before settling back in South Africa. She now identifies as a Deep South local and is a proud mother to her seven-year-old daughter. Maritz speaks passionately about social justice, mentioning her anti-capitalist views and her desire to restore a voice for the LGBTQIA community and to provide quality services for vulnerable people in Ward 61. She emphasizes the importance of being open-minded and not reducing people to demographics. Despite some Afrikaans residents' dislike due to her EFF affiliation, Maritz remains focused on her campaign, balancing her role as a mother and candidate, and hopes to inspire more Afrikaans people to join the EFF.",
  "summary": "Gabrielle Maritz is reluctant to reduce people to demographics, but the Cape Town Ward 61 candidate might not be what many people expect from the EFF. She hopes to build a bridge between the party and people who may not have considered voting for it before.",
  "key_points": [
    "Gabrielle Maritz running as EFF candidate in Cape Town Ward 61.",
    "Born in Pretoria, Maritz has lived in Ireland and Portugal.",
    "Focuses on social justice, LGBTQIA rights, and quality services."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}