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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape is requesting the establishment of a provincial commission of inquiry into state capture in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

Since the ANC/EFF/NA/PA coalition took over the government of the Metro on 26 May 2023 service delivery failure and financial instability have been rife. These issues are a result of the systemic corruption and political interference which have, over many years, crippled the institution rendering it incapable of performing some of its most basic functions. This is the consequence of what we believe to be state capture by politically connected individuals who thrive when there is political and administrative chaos.

The DA has shown its commitment to rooting out corruption in NMB when we laid criminal charges against the city manager, Dr Noxolo Nqwazi. These charges have led to an investigation by the SIU and arrests were made.

The current Mayor, Gary Van Nierkerk, is using the municipality as his own employment agency and the appointment of Anele Qaba as CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) is the perfect example of this.

Examples of the capture of Nelson Mandela Bay by a politically connected cabal have recently come to light.

These include:

• Interference by politicians in procurement of service providers.
• Interference by politicians in the appointment of municipal officials.
• Interference by politicians in disciplinary related matters.
• Interference by politicians in legal disputes and/or cases.
• Broken Supply Chain to facilitate constant deviations.
• Capturing of the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), which is a municipal entity.
• Evergreen contracts within the municipality.
• A dysfunctional MPAC.
• Failure and/or little progress in dealing with R20 billion in Unauthorised, Irregular, Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure on annual financial statements.
• Corruption within the Electricity and Energy Department.
• Corruption within the Human Settlements Department.
• Potential capturing of the Disciplinary Board of the Municipality.
• Corruption/manipulation with EPWP appointments.
• Abuse of EPWP funding for the appointment of political appointees.

My colleague in the Eastern Cape Legislature and DA EC Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL, has written to Premier Oscar Mabuyane to establish a commission of inquiry into the capture of Nelson Mandela Bay.

In terms of the Constitution of South Africa, the premier of a province is responsible for appointing commissions of inquiry.

The Provincial Commissions Act also makes provision for conferring certain powers on commissions appointed by the Premier for the purpose of investigating matters of public concern.

The Provincial Commissions Amendment Bill also states that the Premier, may proclaim in the Provincial Gazette the appointment of a commission of inquiry and define the matter to be investigated by the commission and its other terms of reference.

We have requested that the Premier replies to this letter by Friday, 29 October 2023.

The residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are tired of a government that allows state capture and corruption to reign supreme to line the pockets of connected individuals.

It is time to place the needs of the residents first and rescue Nelson Mandela Bay.

Issued by Andrew Whitfield MP - DA EC Provincial Leader