Nelson Mandela Bay civil society in South Africa proposes municipal recovery plan to parties
A coalition of civil society organisations in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa, has presented an 18-month plan to rebuild the municipality and called on political parties to use it as a foundation. As Daily Maverick reports, the coalition links voter support to the implementation of the proposed changes.
The plan provides for measurable steps to stabilise governance, restore municipal services, strengthen financial discipline and regain the trust of residents and businesses. The document was developed by a non-partisan coalition bringing together various civil society groups. Its members believe that the city’s recovery should not depend solely on the authorities, and that civil society must continuously monitor accountability and the implementation of decisions regardless of who governs the municipality.
Financial and governance problems
The plan states that the municipality is experiencing a systemic crisis. According to the coalition, South Africa’s National Treasury has drawn attention to weak leadership, R28 billion in unauthorised, irregular, wasteful and inefficient expenditure, as well as insufficient investment in infrastructure. The document’s authors claim that this figure is the highest in the country.
According to an assessment cited in the plan, the municipality collects only about 70% of payments due for municipal rates. Due to operational problems, the water and electricity supply divisions operate at a loss. Spending on infrastructure repairs and maintenance, according to the document, amounts to 2.5% of the value of municipal assets, while the National Treasury benchmark is 8%.
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The Auditor-General issued the municipality a qualified audit opinion for the 2024/25 financial year and identified seven material shortcomings. The plan’s authors link the deterioration in the situation to instability in political and administrative leadership, significant water and electricity losses, and weak accountability mechanisms.
Three stages of recovery
During the first three months, the coalition proposes closing leadership gaps, stabilising services, finances and supply chains, and mobilising rapid-response teams. From three to 12 months, it plans to strengthen systems, staff capacity and oversight, fill skills gaps and restore the institution’s coordinated functioning.
The final stage, from 12 to 18 months, is intended to focus on restoring trust and supporting investment and jobs. The plan’s implementation is proposed to be monitored through a steering committee, an advisory and advocacy committee, and a team of specialists in finance, engineering, law, human resources, management and planning. A monthly dashboard is to track the filling of leadership vacancies, water and electricity supply performance, the condition of roads and waste removal, revenue collection, expenditure and procurement timelines.
