In an bid to hold leaders accountable, MP Mmusi Maimane, leader of Build One SA (BOSA), has urged Buffalo City Metro citizens to forgo party politics and consider choosing an independent candidate for the mayoral position in the 2026 local government elections, provided that regulations are changed.
Speaking in East London on Saturday, Maimane, who is also the chair of the standing committee on appropriations, said he had made a submission to the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel to amend the current electoral constitution to allow independent candidates to run for the mayoral position.
Calls for submissions from the public and organisations including political parties or prospective independent candidates on the reform of the electoral system for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures closed on Thursday.
“I submitted for a direct election of the mayor, so that we end these coalitions where we have 10 mayors in 10 years. People must elect someone who they can hold directly accountable.
“It is unacceptable that a mayor should prioritise a party [over] its bosses, which are you.
“Let’s change that law,” he said.
Section 23 of the Electoral Amendment Act of 2023 mandates the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel (ERCP) to independently investigate, consult on, report on and make recommendations in respect of potential reforms of the electoral system after the 2024 elections.
The panel will also hold public consultations which will later lead up to the production of a report which must be submitted to the minister of home affairs by end May 2025, to be tabled before parliament within 30 days thereafter, for its consideration.
Maimane said provincial governments should be scrapped and national government should directly engage with the local spheres of government.
“Local government cannot fail. I have a view that we should set aside provincial government.
“I drove around here and there are potholes and a little bit of road.
“Municipalities are running out of money. The financial plan for municipalities is under pressure because they all depend on funding from the Treasury, and by selling services such as water and electricity.”
Maimane was speaking at the National Community Dialogues (NCD) AGM at the East London ICC on Saturday.
The theme of the gathering was “What makes municipal government fail on service delivery issues and what could be the solution”.
More than 130 guests and panellists came together to engage on social ills in the metro and other Eastern Cape rural municipalities.
Rise Mzansi leader and parliament’s public accounts committee (Scopa) chair Songezo Zibi, Hawks acting division head for priority offences Major-General Mmeli Makinyane and officials from various government entities were part of the panel.
During his keynote address, Zibi said Scopa would soon be doing oversights in the OR Tambo district and Buffalo City Metro over service delivery-related matters.
“Every entity that gets money from national government is our responsibility.
“Our municipalities are suffering with municipal debt at R179bn, most of which they owe different entities, especially Eskom, and most municipalities have R339bn worth of rates that they have not collected.
“Civic organisations like NCD are important. You must never depend on politicians.
“When we come here in Buffalo City, we will call the auditor-general to present the shenanigans of this municipality in a public meeting, because not everyone has access to parliament,” Zibi said.
This was the NCD’s first general meeting since its inception.
Its founder, Leonard Ncumbese, said their role was to advocate for public participation in government matters affecting residents in and around the country and province.
“This is not a Buffalo City organisation, we are national, hence we have people from all provinces here.
“Gone are the days when we rely on political parties for service delivery. We now can have leaders individually chosen by the people.
“We have been pursuing this municipality on many occasions to account.
“We have a housing issue that needs to be addressed. RDP beneficiaries, some of whom are here, are living in shacks while other people stay in their homes.
“I have requested to meet the mayor many times to the point that the municipality no longer wants to speak to us any more.”
Addressing Zibi and Maimane, Ncumbese pleaded for sponsorships as he wanted the organisation to have engagements every three months.
“It’s a pity we don’t have funding. We are called all over but we can’t reach some municipalities.
“As political parties you know how to get funding. Link us with your funders that funded you before the elections; link me,” Ncumbese said.
Before the elections, Rise Mzansi, which was registered with the IEC in September 2023, received a huge chunk of donations worth above R16m, of which R15m came from Rebecca Oppenheimer.
BOSA declared R8.5m worth of donations, R6m of that coming from Jessica Bridget Slack Jell, daughter of Mary Slack, SA’s wealthiest woman who is also the mother of Rebecca Oppenheimer.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session before the organisation held its behind-closed-doors meeting where its financials and action plan were presented.
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