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#HandsOffMayorRetiefOdendaal Rally Speech

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Extract of Speech delivered on Saturday, 20 May 2023, by DA EC Provincial Leader Andrew Whitfield MP, at the #HandsOffMayorRetiefOdendaal Rally in front of City Hall in Nelson Mandela Bay. The event was attended by NMB Mayor Retief Odendaal, DA Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille, and DA EC Provincial Chairperson, Yusuf Cassim MPL.

Over the past eight months, Executive Mayor Retief Odendaal and the multi-party coalition government have made great strides towards turning the fortunes of Nelson Mandela Bay around.

Since 21 September 2022, when the coalition took over the reins of government, there has been renewed energy and focus, improved service delivery, a crackdown on corruption, and an air of optimism and hope amongst residents who have answered the Mayor’s call to get our city working again.

Fast forward eight months, and it is clear that a coalition with the DA at its centre is critical to ensuring stability in Nelson Mandela Bay. The successes of the multiparty coalition government speak for themselves.

These include, but are in no way limited to:

  • More than 14 000 water leaks repaired.
  • More than 20 000 potholes repaired.
  • 1700 title deeds handed over.
  • More than 15 000 streetlights were repaired.
  • Amended the ATTP policy to make free basic services more accessible to residents in need.
  • Stopped over-extraction of the dams to prevent Day Zero.
  • Created nearly 5000 EPWP job opportunities
  • Constructed 500 RDP-houses

It is against this backdrop of progress that the ANC-EFF Doomsday Coalition has decided to submit a frivolous motion of no confidence in the mayor and the coalition.

This motion, which is set to be debated at a special council meeting next Friday, 26 May 2023, is nothing more than a blatant power grab by a desperate ANC and EFF cabal, to get their corrupt hands on the city’s R18 billion budget.

The well-being of the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay has absolutely nothing to do with their actions. Their sole agenda is lining their own pockets through looting, stealing and gaining positions of power.

This deceptive cabal of cadres has shown they are prepared to do whatever it takes, promising the mayoral chains and executive positions to secure power. It is a sham, their aim is to create a puppet mayor to take the blame while they loot with impunity.

The DA implores those who have been tempted to listen to their better judgement, put aside their self-interests, and let sanity prevail.

We are still committed to the coalition government and putting the residents first – our door remains open to further negotiations.

The DA will not roll over and allow the corrupt ANC/EFF Doomsday Coalition to bring this city to its knees. We will fight to the bitter end for the people of Nelson Mandela Bay.

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Port Elizabethan

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