Lance Grootboom News Today

As the national and provincial elections draw closer, The Herald will be providing space for political leaders in the province to unveil their plans to tackle some of the most pressing issues.

With just over six weeks to go before South Africans head to the polls for what is expected to be a hotly-contested 2024 general elections, have you made up your mind about who you will be voting for?

The ACDP promises to abolish the parole system for people found guilty of rape, murder and armed robbery should the party be voted into government after the 2024 national elections.

Crucial projects for some of the city’s poorest areas were sidelined while others gained more funding as the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality rejigged the 2023/2024 budget on a day that culminated in a fiery exchange between councillors.

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Gary van Niekerk is confident that the metro will not forfeit R500m in grants the city stands to lose due to underspending.

As Nelson Mandela Bay National Alliance councillor Gary van Niekerk braces for a second attempt to oust him as mayor, his coalition partners have got his back before a council meeting on Thursday.

In a day of high drama, where it emerged that two Patriotic Alliance councillors had received death threats warning them against supporting a move to oust mayor Gary van Niekerk, the Nelson Mandela Bay council placed city boss Noxolo Nqwazi on precautionary suspension yet again.

Instability within the city manager’s office and senior management ranks, a significant backlog in finalising investigations and despite strategic plans to curb electricity and water losses, Nelson Mandela Bay continues to grapple with unacceptably high rates thereof.

Lingering issues in annual financial statements place a threat on the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality regressing from its unqualified audit for the 2022/2023 fiscal year — the first in 12 years.

The ANC and EFF councillors elected to form part of an investigative ad hoc committee to probe allegations made against Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Gary van Niekerk were no-shows at their first meeting that sat on Wednesday.