Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape — As the November 4 local government elections approach, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Nelson Mandela Bay has pledged a comprehensive overhaul of municipal service delivery. UDM mayoral candidate Luxolo Namette outlined his party’s strategy to stabilize the metro, emphasizing the urgent need for permanent leadership and revitalized law enforcement to address ongoing civic failures.
The urgency of these promises is highly visible on the ground in the Guazak area, where severe sanitation failures have left litter and sewage spilling directly outside the premises of Sipo Hasha combined school. This lack of basic refuse collection and sanitation highlights the broader misgivings residents have regarding the current municipality’s performance and the daily realities they face.
Addressing these systemic issues, Namette identified the lack of permanent management as the root cause of the metro’s struggles. He noted that without a permanent city manager and competent department heads, the municipality fails to institute consequence management or effectively run day-to-day operational programs. Furthermore, he highlighted a critical financial hurdle: under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the National Treasury will not release grants to a municipality lacking a permanent city manager. Consequently, the UDM’s primary post-election focus will be appointing permanent, competent personnel to stabilize the institution and unlock vital funding.
Beyond administration, the UDM candidate addressed pressing security and infrastructure concerns, including persistent water issues and gang activity in nearby areas such as Helenvale and Gelvandale. Namette described the current Metro police as dysfunctional and pledged to revitalize the force by employing local residents from Nelson Mandela Bay. He also pointed to severe electricity department losses, attributing them to a lack of managers willing to enforce consequence management and oversee daily operational programs.
When questioned about the current leadership’s failures, Namette stated without fear or favor that the municipality suffers from a distinct lack of both political and administrative will. He committed to placing “sober leaders” in the city to restore stability and public trust.
Acknowledging the likelihood of a coalition government following the November 4 elections, Namette confirmed that the UDM is already actively engaging with other political parties. He stressed that any post-election coalitions will be strictly formed with parties that align with the UDM’s core policies, ensuring that the ultimate goal remains the effective and stable governance of Nelson Mandela Bay.
