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According to the IFP, the issue of underperformance and infighting among ANC
councilors in a number of Eastern Cape municipalities has been overlooked
for too long and putting these municipalities under administration is
overdue.

IFP local government spokesman Mr Peter Smith decried the sad fact that
"instead of the ANC's local leaders setting a good example and doing what
they should be doing and in the case of councilors, doing what they are paid
to do, the ANC's municipal leadership and local party leadership are at
loggerheads. This is impacting very negatively on service delivery and is
forcing the province to intervene."

That the governance crisis is centered on the economic drivers of the
province is even worse, he said, because "when you get this wrong, the whole
of the province suffers."

Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, is at loggerheads with her
municipal manager Andile Fani, as are Nelson Mandela Metro mayor Zanoxolo
Wayile and his ANC regional boss Nceba Faku. Instead of tackling outstanding
issues such as lack of water, proper sanitation and electricity, which need
to be addressed urgently, municipal leaders are too busy fighting each other
and their party.

Smith said that "if the councilors are not doing their job or are incapable
of doing it, they should vacate their seats and make way for those who are
willing to work, while on the other hand, the ANC should ensure that its
local structures stop trying to micromanage municipalities whose
representatives have a mandate to govern."