The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) has today launched a solutions-focused campaign, titled: “60 Weeks, 60 Ways to Get NMB Working Again.” The campaign will set about outlining the numerous ways that a DA NMB government will get our city working again, in partnership with every NMB resident and business.
I was joined at the launch by DA NMB Caucus Spokesperson, Cllr Siyasanga Sijadu, and DA NMB EDTA Spokesperson, Cllr Masixole Zinto.
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The Big-Six Industrial Zone Renewal Programme will focus on the following key industrial zones: North End, Uitenhage/Kariega, Struandale, Deal Party, Perseverance and Markman.
The programme will see a DA NMB municipality focus on road, electrical, stormwater and sanitation infrastructure maintenance and repairs. Each zone will be allocated dedicated rangers, supporters by metro and traffic police, to oversee by-law enforcement. A dedicated network of cameras will be installed for added security and all business owners will be invited to workshops and information sessions about by-laws, safety protocols and infrastructure repair programs.
This campaign’s inaugural announcement addresses a critical need for economic revitalisation in NMB’s industrial heartlands which have gone to rack and ruin, where business owners have been left to fend for themselves while an uncaring, inept ANC/EFF coalition flounders and chases its own tail. Large parts of these areas consist mostly of abandoned and hijacked properties, drug-dens, piles of rubbish on every corner and crumbling infrastructure.
For too long, the industrial areas that once powered our city have been allowed to decline. The ’60 Weeks, 60 Ways’ campaign starts with a bold economic plan, beginning with unlocking the potential of our neglected industrial nodes. The Big-6 Industrial Renewal Programme is designed to restore infrastructure, create public-private partnerships, attract new investment, incentivise existing businesses, and stimulate job creation.
We cannot stand by while businesses close, infrastructure crumbles, and jobs are lost in areas like Deal Party, Struandale and Markman. With spiralling unemployment, we need a decisive government that makes bold moves to restore investor confidence. Restoring these industrial areas will send a clear message to investors, both local and international, that NMB is open for business.
I have written to the Minister of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, to outline the DA’s plans for NMB’s industrial zones and to request a meeting to discuss what support options the DTIC could provide to bolster these critical plans.
The “60 Weeks, 60 Ways” campaign will see a new, tangible commitment or solution announced every week over the next 60 weeks, focusing on the core issues facing the Metro, including:
- Fixing Crumbling Infrastructure and drastically improving service delivery: Plans for water, electricity, and road network repair.
- Growing the economy and creating jobs: Plans for cutting red tape, establishing bodies that bring key stakeholders together to unlock opportunities and supporting local businesses.
- Fighting Corruption: Measures for financial transparency and accountability.
- Improving Public Safety: Strategies for a functional by-law enforcement operation through highly-efficient metro and traffic police operations.
- Restoring Good Governance: Ensuring a professional, ethical, and efficient municipal administration.
Nelson Mandela Bay is at a crossroads. The time for empty promises is over. It is time to roll up our sleeves and get our Metro working again, one solution at a time. All the way to Local Government Elections 2026/2027, where every single resident has the option to vote for a majority DA government.
This is a 60-week commitment to present specific and actionable plans that will make a measurable difference in the lives of our residents. I invite every NMB resident to play a role in our mission to fix our city.
Together, we can get NMB working again.