EFF does not care about the people of NMB

16 October 2019

The EFF has once again exposed itself as an organisation that only cares about its own narrow political outcomes instead of the interests of the people who elected them.

The EFF has withdrawn its support of tomorrow’s Motion of No Confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Mayor Mongameli Bobani - citing the real possibility of the Democratic Alliance (DA) once again occupying the mayoral seat.

Whilst the EFF would like to claim that it is consistent in its decision-making, the reality is that the EFF is a party devoid of principles. If this was a principled decision, the EFF would have supported the Motion of No Confidence in Mayor Bobani whether it would mean the return of a DA-led government or not.

During former Mayor, Athol Trollip’s time at the helm of NMB, he cleaned up the rot left behind by the ANC, brought about tangible change and got the metro back to working again.

In the 24 months in charge, the DA-led metro achieved a host of successes:

The City was financially liquid with over R2 billion in the bank and received a AAA credit rating;

Achieved annual financial statements that indicate the administration has achieved record levels of spending in the financial year 2017/18;

Boasted one of the best Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) spending performances in the country at 100%; and

Tripled the number of annual jobs created by the EPWP (Expanded Public Works Program).

Mayor Bobani has done nothing to improve the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, nor has he built on the progress the previous DA-led administration made in delivering services and opportunities to the people of the Bay.

In fact, NMB has regressed so much that stagnant service delivery and looting have become the norm in the City. The EFF’s insistence to keep NMB in the hands of the Coalition of Corruption makes them complicit in the ongoing collapse of service delivery and good governance in NMB.

As refuse is piling on the streets, irregular appointments are now rife in the City and its financial health deteriorates – the EFF has chosen the path of political immaturity instead of doing the right thing.

Issued by Solly Malatsi, DA National Spokesperson, 16 October 2019