The African National Congress (ANC) is heading into the final stretch of the local government elections in the Eastern Cape, with a coalition government almost certain in the province's two metros, Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay. In Buffalo City, the ANC won outright in the 2021 local government elections, securing 59.4% of the vote. However, with no mayoral candidate for the metro from the Democratic Alliance (DA), the EFF and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) are optimistic about their chances.
The UDM's deputy president, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, is the party's mayoral candidate for Buffalo City and has stated that if the party does not receive an outright majority, they will engage in coalition talks. Kwankwa indicated that he would resign from the national legislature to lead the municipality if the UDM receives an outright majority. The EFF's Buffalo City mayoral candidate, Mkhululi Dlevu, is confident that the party will emerge as the winner, saying "there will be an outright winner, that winner will be EFF".
In Nelson Mandela Bay, the ANC's current ally, the National Alliance (NA), is fielding candidates and is confident of growing its presence in the metro. The NA's president, Gary van Niekerk, who is currently the deputy mayor, stated that the party's boots-on-the-ground approach has resonated with residents, and they are contesting the elections to lead and serve, not just to hold positions. Van Niekerk emphasized that the NA will remain a central pillar in the governance of Nelson Mandela Bay.
The ANC has dropped plans to announce mayoral candidates before the elections, despite promising to do so across the country. However, Andile Lungisa, a national executive committee member and former ANC Youth League deputy president, insists that he is the ANC's mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay. Lungisa was reinstated as a candidate after the Gauteng High Court ordered the ANC to reinstate his candidacy, which had been removed due to his failure to attend the vetting process.
The ANC's internal conflicts and external factors, such as challenges in service delivery, have put the party on a constrained growth trajectory, according to Dr. Ongama Mtimka, acting director of the Raymond Mhlaba Centre for Governance and Leadership. Mtimka stated that the ANC is unlikely to recover lost ground. The party's current ally in Nelson Mandela Bay, the NA, has emphasized that any potential coalition partner must commit to zero tolerance for corruption and strict performance accountability.
The Eastern Cape local municipalities have faced challenges, with the ANC failing to timeously submit candidates in four municipalities, including Port St. Johns. The municipality's mayor, Cebisa Mazuza, was recently axed and replaced with the party's sub-regional chairperson, Nelson Nontlevu. The ANC's mayoral nominees in Port St. Johns include Mazuza and four others.
The elections in the Eastern Cape metros are expected to be closely contested, with various parties vying for power. The outcome will likely determine the governance of the metros for the next term. Key players, including the ANC, DA, EFF, UDM, and NA, are all contesting for a significant share of the vote.
Key points
- Coalition government likely in Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay
- ANC faces challenges in Eastern Cape metros due to internal conflicts and service delivery issues
- Various parties contesting for power in Eastern Cape metros
