PIET MARAIS
The Democratic Alliance (DA) considers the 2026 municipal elections a pivotal opportunity for South Africa — and for communities like Ndlambe to reassess their path forward. Speaking at The Volo in Kenton-on-Sea this week, newly announced DA mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay, Retief Odendaal, encouraged residents to actively engage with alternative models of governance.
About 60 attendees joined the gathering, where residents were asked: “What can we do — and how?” if the DA were to lead Ndlambe. The event formed part of a broader initiative aimed at fostering public scrutiny, promoting community ownership, and reconnecting politics with local realities.
Prominent DA figures in attendance included Jane Cowley, DA Member of the Eastern Cape Legislature and Kleinemonde resident, as well as Ross Purdon, long-time Port Alfred resident, former councillor, and former member of parliament.
Both Odendaal and Cowley emphasised the importance of organised civil society — ratepayers’ associations, business chambers, and civic groups — in ensuring accountability and collaboration with local municipalities. While acknowledging the challenges of bridging political divides, they underscored the urgency of doing so for the collective good.
Odendaal reiterated the value of voter participation and active citizenship. “Apathy leads to fools getting elected,” he warned, urging communities to take ownership of their democratic duties. He also contrasted the DA’s preference for “organic meetings” — such as The Volo event — with large, orchestrated gatherings where attendees are bussed in. “Real conversations happen when people meet in their own communities,” he said.
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, Odendaal suggested that the ANC is preparing for potential losses in several municipalities, presenting an opportunity for communities like Ndlambe to “mobilise and rethink governance.”
While he conceded that Ndlambe might not be the worst-run municipality in the province, Odendaal highlighted a clear need for improvement. He proposed that the DA’s approach — grounded in sound business principles, smarter spending, and diversified revenue streams — could reinvigorate municipal management.
When asked about the distinction between a mayor and ward councillors, Odendaal clarified that the mayor is “solely responsible for the municipality’s budget and the Integrated Development Plan (IDP),” describing it as the council’s business plan. He challenged the notion that ward councillors are accountable for systemic issues, placing the onus on mayors and municipal managers instead.
A key theme throughout Odendaal’s address was the lack of expertise in accessing available grant funding — a missed opportunity he said is prevalent in many Eastern Cape municipalities. He pointed to Kouga Municipality as a success story: once ranked among the worst-run municipalities (in 2016), Kouga became the province’s best-run by 2021 through fiscal discipline and strategic planning.
Odendaal closed with a call for vision, pragmatism, and community mobilisation. “Improvement is possible,” he said. “But it requires a willingness to think differently and to engage deeply.”
“While the Ndlambe Municipality might not be the worst-run in the Eastern Cape, there is still a clear need for improvement, and the DA believes it can bring about positive change by applying sound business principles to municipal management, ensuring funds are spent wisely, and actively seeking additional revenue sources,” Odendaal said.
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This article was first published in Talk of the Town, July 17, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
