GQEBERHA – Democratic Alliance (DA) Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate Retief Odendaal has pledged R1.5 billion for infrastructure upgrades across the city’s 11 Northern Areas wards over five years if the party takes office after the 4 November elections.

Odendaal said the funding would be used for municipal infrastructure development and social housing, while arguing that the investment would not come at the expense of development in other communities.

“When the DA takes office after the elections on 4 November, we plan to make R1.5 billion available for the 11 Northern Areas wards to ensure infrastructure upgrades over the five-year term,” he said.

“The funding will not only be allocated to municipal infrastructure development but will also support social housing development.”

Kleinskool Sports Ground highlighted

Odendaal conducted an oversight inspection at the derelict Kleinskool Sports Ground, which could no longer be used by the community.

“This is just one of many community facilities that have been allowed to fall into a state of total disrepair,” he said.

“The municipality has lost more than R5 billion over the last three financial years due to mismanagement.”

According to Odendaal, the DA had rejected the most recent ward-based budget, approved by the coalition government, which allocated 8.3% of the NMB capital budget to the 11 Northern Areas wards.

“This is despite residents in the Northern Areas facing daily struggles with high unemployment and some of the highest crime rates in the country.”

DA challenges Northern Areas budget allocation

Odendaal added: “Our ward councillors have been fighting for these wards and have pushed for more budget and better service delivery in council and by engaging the municipal officials who are supposed to deliver the services. However, the council makes the decisions that affect the whole municipality,” said Odendaal.

He added that in Nelson Mandela Bay, the ANC coalition has the majority and outvotes DA councillors.

“This has limited what our hardworking councillors can achieve. And when votes are split between lots of small parties, it becomes even harder for the DA to win enough seats to govern,” he said.

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