The troubled Buffalo City Metro (BCM) is fast becoming a political battleground, with opposition parties hoping to capitalise on ANC divisions in the region.
The Daily Dispatch last week reported that Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema would hold a rally at Victoria Grounds in King William’s Town on Saturday.
Malema is expected to address thousands of party supporters from across the province, and to commemorate the life and times of former Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko.
On Sunday, Democratic Alliance (DA) national leader Mmusi Maimane will visit the ANC’s traditional backyard of Mdantsane to address supporters at Sisa Dukashe stadium.
The visits by the prominent opposition leaders come weeks after factionalism and divisions within ANC structures emerged.
The ANC’s national leadership, including party president Jacob Zuma, recently visited the troubled Buffalo City region to hear complaints from various branches amid allegations of fraud during preparations for the yet-to-be-held regional elective conference.
ANC national deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte visited the region in a bid to iron out differences between branches and regional leadership.
As a result, ANC regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo was placed on what was termed “indefinite political leave”, while the party also recalled mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and her deputy Temba Tinta recently.
Ncitha and Tinta have been implicated in the alleged embezzlement of municipal funds meant to be used to transport mourners to Nelson Mandela’s memorial services in December 2013.
DA provincial leader and the party’s Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip, yesterday confirmed Maimane’s visit. He would be at meetings in Port Elizabeth and Mdantsane at the weekend.
On Saturday, Maimane would be in the Port Elizabeth city centre to officially launch Trollip’s ambitious campaign to become the next mayor of NMBM.
This is part of the party’s build-up to the much-anticipated 2016 local government elections, in which the DA is confident of toppling the ruling ANC from power in NMBM.
The following morning, Maimane is expected to address thousands of party supporters at a rally at Sisa Dukashe stadium.
Trollip yesterday said his party was aiming to win both BCM and NMBM in next year’s elections “as they are both troubled and in deep need of being rescued from total collapse”.
“We have declared both these metros as battlegrounds ahead of next year’s elections.
“They both, over the years, had multiple changes of mayors and municipal managers. Their administration is in chaos and infrastructure in BCM is collapsing.”
EFF provincial spokeswoman Yoliswa Yako yesterday said EFF national leaders would arrive in the province this week to visit institutions of higher learning as part of their build-up to their Saturday rally. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
DA and EFF leaders target Buffalo City votes
The Daily Dispatch last week reported that Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema would hold a rally at Victoria Grounds in King William’s Town on Saturday.
Malema is expected to address thousands of party supporters from across the province, and to commemorate the life and times of former Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko.
On Sunday, Democratic Alliance (DA) national leader Mmusi Maimane will visit the ANC’s traditional backyard of Mdantsane to address supporters at Sisa Dukashe stadium.
The visits by the prominent opposition leaders come weeks after factionalism and divisions within ANC structures emerged.
The ANC’s national leadership, including party president Jacob Zuma, recently visited the troubled Buffalo City region to hear complaints from various branches amid allegations of fraud during preparations for the yet-to-be-held regional elective conference.
ANC national deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte visited the region in a bid to iron out differences between branches and regional leadership.
As a result, ANC regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo was placed on what was termed “indefinite political leave”, while the party also recalled mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and her deputy Temba Tinta recently.
Ncitha and Tinta have been implicated in the alleged embezzlement of municipal funds meant to be used to transport mourners to Nelson Mandela’s memorial services in December 2013.
DA provincial leader and the party’s Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip, yesterday confirmed Maimane’s visit. He would be at meetings in Port Elizabeth and Mdantsane at the weekend.
On Saturday, Maimane would be in the Port Elizabeth city centre to officially launch Trollip’s ambitious campaign to become the next mayor of NMBM.
This is part of the party’s build-up to the much-anticipated 2016 local government elections, in which the DA is confident of toppling the ruling ANC from power in NMBM.
The following morning, Maimane is expected to address thousands of party supporters at a rally at Sisa Dukashe stadium.
Trollip yesterday said his party was aiming to win both BCM and NMBM in next year’s elections “as they are both troubled and in deep need of being rescued from total collapse”.
“We have declared both these metros as battlegrounds ahead of next year’s elections.
“They both, over the years, had multiple changes of mayors and municipal managers. Their administration is in chaos and infrastructure in BCM is collapsing.”
EFF provincial spokeswoman Yoliswa Yako yesterday said EFF national leaders would arrive in the province this week to visit institutions of higher learning as part of their build-up to their Saturday rally. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos