In South Africa, DJs to compete for Nelson Mandela Bay ward — Daily Maverick
In South Africa, Democratic Alliance candidate Daron Mann and Freedom Front Plus representative Renaldo Gouws will compete in the local elections on November 4 for Ward 5, whose boundaries have been redrawn in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. Both candidates previously worked as DJs: Mann was a radio host, while Gouws was a DJ at nightclubs in Gqeberha.
As Daily Maverick reports, the ward includes areas from Russell Road and City Hall through the Central area, South End, Forest Hill, Humewood and Humewood Beach to the waterfront and parts of Summerstrand. Its territory includes the Donkin Reserve, the Opera House, the main library, beaches and Happy Valley.
Infrastructure and security problems
Residents of the ward face regular sewage leaks at Kings Beach, infrastructure damage, non-functioning streetlights, crime and homelessness. Both candidates are focusing their campaigns on security, infrastructure repairs, enforcement of municipal bylaws and improving tourist sites.
Gouws, who represented Ward 2 as a municipal councillor for six years and was also a Democratic Alliance member of parliament, said he intends to strengthen the municipal police presence and upgrade the waterfront and Happy Valley. He also promised to seek to ensure that budget spending on the ward corresponds to the amounts local residents and businesses pay in taxes and fees.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Candidates' promises
Gouws was expelled from the Democratic Alliance in 2024 after an old video containing racist remarks emerged. He later apologized for the video as part of a settlement with the Human Rights Commission. The candidate also said that his experience in municipal politics would help him respond quickly to the ward's problems.
Mann, who has 30 years of broadcasting experience and experience covering municipal service issues, called weak enforcement of municipal bylaws the key problem. He proposes holding owners of neglected buildings accountable, working more closely with the police and increasing the number of municipal police officers.
Mann also said that the main library has been closed to visitors for about 10 years and promised to seek its reopening and repairs to the lighting along the waterfront. According to him, clean and safe public spaces should help the city attract tourists and sporting events.
