In South Africa, civic movement urges Nelson Mandela Bay residents to vote — Daily Maverick
In Gqeberha, South Africa, the newly established civic movement Citizens of NMB has launched a campaign urging residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area to take part in the local elections on November 4, 2026. Large billboards have been installed on busy city thoroughfares, calling on voters not to abstain from voting due to disappointment with politics and the work of local authorities.
As Daily Maverick reports, billboards have already been placed on Govan Mbeki Avenue, Stanford Road, Cape Road and Mount Road. Another is planned for William Moffett Drive. The movement describes itself as a non-partisan non-profit initiative bringing together businesspeople, civic organizations, churches and city residents.
Low turnout in previous elections
The movement's founder and director, local businessman Mark Jensen, said the campaign is intended to prevent a repeat of the low turnout recorded during the 2021 local elections. At that time, 45.88% of registered voters cast their ballots in Nelson Mandela Bay, while nationwide turnout was 45.87%.
According to Jensen, the movement's research found a combination of distrust in political parties and a lack of understanding of the electoral system. Some voters, he said, believe that the party currently holding a seat will retain it even if they do not vote, and do not distinguish between ward voting and the proportional system.
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Jensen also linked residents' frustration to disruptions in water and electricity supplies, poor road conditions and instability in the governance of the metropolitan area. He stressed that the movement supports no political force and urges residents to assess candidates and parties responsibly.
Call from church leaders
On September 14, 20 church leaders, including representatives of the Anglican, Methodist and Catholic churches, as well as the Motherwell Ministers' Fraternity, issued a non-partisan statement calling on Christians to take part in the elections. They urged people to make informed choices based on reliable information and the well-being of the entire metropolitan area.
The statement says that candidates and parties should be assessed by their integrity, experience, track record and ability to deliver realistic promises. The church leaders also emphasized the importance of reliable water supply, sanitation, electricity, waste removal, roads, transport, responsible management of public funds and preventing corruption.
