DA Aspires To Win Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Outright

With only a few days to go before the sixth Local Government Elections since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the DA is determined to woo voters to get the majority of the votes in a few days from now.

If they achieve this feat, the DA will have a third opportunity to occupy the mayoral seat in the economic hub of the Eastern Cape following their coalition governments led by Athol Trollip (18 August 2016 - 27 August 2018) and Retief Odendaal (21 September 2022 - 26 May 2023).

The second largest political party in the country dispatched its crème de la crème, including Federal Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis; Deputy Federal Chairperson Siviwe Gwarube; Eastern Cape provincial leader Andrew Whitfield and Yusuf Cassim, its Provincial Chairperson to endorse Odendaal's candidacy.

Casually dressed in veldskoene, khaki pants and a grey blazer, Odendaal received cheers and adoration from the crowd when he emerged on stage.

Odendaal themed his final public address, held in a packed George Botha Community Hall in KwaNoxolo township, as ‘2026 is a make-or-break year for NMB’.

KwaNoxolo, a previously disadvantaged area, has no clinic, public safety concerns and a high unemployment rate, among others.

"Imagine a Nelson Mandela Bay where the lights stay on, where water flows from our taps, where sewage no longer runs through our streets, where our roads are maintained, and where our streets are clean and safe.

“Imagine a Nelson Mandela Bay where businesses are opening instead of closing. Where investors are bringing money into our city instead of looking elsewhere. Where young people can find jobs and build careers.

“Imagine a Nelson Mandela Bay where our children can play in our parks without fear, where our communities have functioning sports facilities, and where every resident can live with dignity and pride.

“Imagine a Nelson Mandela Bay where municipal leaders spend their time solving problems, not fighting one another for political power.

"Imagine a Nelson Mandela Bay that works,” he said to resounding cheers in the crammed venue.

Odendaal said this local government election is make-or-break for Nelson Mandela Bay.

“We cannot afford another five years of ANC-led coalition chaos. We cannot survive another five years of the ANC, EFF and small political parties putting their own interests ahead of the people.

“And let me be clear: every vote that divides the opposition risks handing this city straight back to the same chaotic, corrupt coalitions that have failed its people.”

The vision for 2031, after five years under a DA government, is simple. Nelson Mandela Bay is a city rebuilt. A place that is safe, well-run and flourishing, said Odendaal.

“In 2031, I want us to look back with pride. To say that we rebuilt our infrastructure, restored confidence in our government, and opened the doors to investment and jobs.”

He promised to ring-fence revenue to tackle the infrastructure maintenance failures that leave families without basic services and businesses unable to operate.

“We will open the doors to investment and jobs. We will cut unnecessary fees, clear approval backlogs, and get applications moving,” he said.

The DA leadership agreed that an outright majority win for the party is a doable mission provided all party members go to the polls and vote for their councillors.

“When you go home today, I want you to carry one message with you. Tell your family, friends, and neighbours to imagine a Nelson Mandela Bay that works. Then tell them that we have the power to make it happen,” said Odendaal.

He said every vote for the DA brings them closer to the stable, capable government that their vision for 2031 requires.

Hill-Lewis, DA’s Federal Leader and Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town since 2021, said Nelson Mandela Bay has the potential of emulating his economically thriving city.

“Give us a chance, and we will show you how the DA serves every resident in every community. This city is ready for a fresh start. This city has so much potential."

He, however, warned that the potential alone does not put a mayor in office.

“Potential does not change things. Votes do. This is a turnout election. It will be decided by the people who show up.

"We must turn every willing supporter into a voter, every conversation into a commitment to vote and every bit of this incredible energy into action on election day."

Provincial leader Andrew Whitfield said he dreads an outcome after election day where they did not receive that outright majority.

"I believe that we can win Nelson Mandela Bay, I believe that life in the Nelson Mandela Bay can be better for all its residents.

"I believe that the DA will get this economy growing, that the people can get jobs. And I believe that in five years' time, when we look back to this moment … we will say, I was there, I was part of change in Nelson Mandela Bay.

"We are running out of time in Nelson Mandela Bay, and we are running out of money.

"We need to make sure that every single DA voter makes it to the voting stations on Wednesday and that they make their mark, on both ballot papers, for the DA.

"We can win Nelson Mandela Bay with a clear majority if all our supporters turn up on the 4th of November. If so, we will never look back at a broken city.

"We will look forward to a better future, and a brighter, bolder DA government."

He said in the remaining days they will work even harder to tell the story of Retief Odendaal and his vision for a better future.

"We are going to knock on every door and pick up every DA voter. And we are going to deliver a better future for all."

Addressing the rally earlier, Deputy Federal Chairperson Siviwe Gwarube asked what it would it take to make her home province work again.

"If I go to my own hometown, King Williamstown, it looks like a shadow of its former self.

"All towns like Nelson Mandela Bay look like shadows of their old selves. What that means is that we need to make a different choice.

"A choice we did not make before. Otherwise, we will wait until there is no electricity, no water and housing while watching ooBabes (referring to Mayor Babalwa Lobishe) siphoning millions of rands with her friends and associates.

"For how long must women give sexual favours to councillors before they get government jobs?” Gwarube asked.

"You can hire and fire a government at your will. I want to encourage you to hire Retief Odendaal ngoba simtheme ngokumthemba.

"Retief was the mayor for only nine months and he managed to get the city an unqualified audit for the first time in twelve years.

"That’s the kind of man we are talking about. We are not talking about a storyteller. We are talking about a car we took for a test drive. We know this car moves when we sent it.

"All of you here are the CEOs on the fourth of November," she added.

Cassim, born and bred in Kariega, said all 60 wards were represented at the rally.

"We are not going to get this chance again. We cannot allow people to be misled in this final leg,” he said.

Cassim, who serves as the deputy minister of higher education in the government of national unity, pleaded with everyone present at the rally to guard their votes, to guard their communities and to get out and vote for the DA.

In the previous local government elections in 2021, the DA pipped the ANC with 39.92% votes to 39.43% but eventually lost control of the metro to a coalition of the ANC and smaller parties.

Liam Jacobs and Georgina Faldtman engaged the crowd and kept everyone entertained in KwaNoxolo in the community hall painted blue with the party’s regalia.

The delegation later took their campaign to Jeffrey's Bay to endorse Hattingh Bornman's candidacy for Executive Mayor. Bornman is the current Executive Mayor of Kouga Municipality.