DA leader John Steenhuisen promised to place the troubled Nelson Mandela Bay municipality under administration if his party took control of the Eastern Cape in the upcoming national and provincial elections.
Steenhuisen made the promise at a whirlwind rally in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday where he was drumming up support.
In 2019, the DA clinched 15.73% of votes in the Eastern Cape. The ANC won with 68.74%.
As SA prepares for the May 29 polls, Steenhuisen, climbing up and down a ladder to affix election posters to lamp poles, suggested residents carefully assess the conditions of the ANC-run province to understand that the “DA can do better”.
The posters brandish new slogans such as “rescue SA”.
“The current situation in Nelson Mandela Bay is truly lamentable, serving as a glaring illustration of the kind of leadership one should avoid endorsing through votes,” Steenhuisen said in Gelvandale.
“Our collective mission is, like our slogan says, to rescue SA, a goal that necessitates purging the nation and its metropolitan areas of corrupt elements.
“The DA stands as the sole political entity capable of rectifying the chaos in the very unstable Nelson Mandela Bay.
“If we secure an unequivocal majority in the Eastern Cape, our commitment extends to placing Nelson Mandela Bay and other struggling municipalities under administration.”
Steenhuisen said if the party secured an outright majority in the Eastern Cape, a “day and night” difference would follow.
“We are committed to using all available resources to restore the functionality of every city,” he said.
“Our focus extends beyond mere governance; we aspire to eliminate crime and prioritise the wellbeing of residents.”
He said the DA did not have a specific target market.
“We aim to address the needs of every human being.”
Political analyst Dr Dale McKinley said he was sceptical about the DA’s chances of securing an outright majority in the Eastern Cape.
“To be realistic, it seems unlikely for the DA to win the entire province due to various factors, such as the province’s demographics, encompassing aspects like race,” he said.
“The party will in all probability fare much better than in the 2019 elections but it won’t win the province.”
When it came to Steenhuisen’s assertion that the DA would place the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality under administration, McKinley said it could be accomplished but anticipated it would be a highly controversial decision.
“It will probably end up in court,” McKinley said.
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