By Johnathan Paoli
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is expected to unveil its plan to revive Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) when its mayoral candidate, Retief Odendaal, takes the stage at a campaign rally in Algoa Park.
The event is expected to set the tone for the DA’s election drive in the metro, with Odendaal outlining a comprehensive vision to “get NMB working again”.
“If we want to fix this country and get it working again, we all have to roll up our sleeves, whether you’re in politics or civil society and get stuck in,” Odendaal said.
The rally, scheduled for Monday morning at the Pieter Rademeyer Hall in Algoa Park, Gqeberha, will be a high-profile occasion.
Odendaal will be joined by senior party leadership, including DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen, DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader Andrew Whitfield, DA Provincial Chairperson Yusuf Cassim, and DA EC Provincial Spokesperson Georgina Faldtman.
According to the DA, the campaign launch in Algoa Park is deliberately symbolic.
The community is where Odendaal was born, raised, and matriculated from Otto du Plessis High School.
Odendaal’s campaign comes at a time when Nelson Mandela Bay faces significant service delivery challenges.
Persistent water outages, failing infrastructure, political instability, and high unemployment have left many residents disillusioned with municipal leadership.
Party insiders say his address will focus on practical solutions to restore stability, strengthen service delivery, and rebuild trust in local government.
Central to this vision is creating jobs, tackling corruption, fixing basic services such as water and electricity, and ensuring financial accountability in the Metro’s administration.
“The people of Nelson Mandela Bay have endured years of instability and poor governance. We are ready to offer a clear plan that restores hope, delivers results, and builds a city that works for all its residents,” Odendaal said.
Steenhuisen, who has frequently visited the Eastern Cape in recent months, is expected to highlight the DA’s track record in municipalities such as Cape Town and Midvaal, where the party has improved governance, attracted investment, and bolstered service delivery.
The party is hoping to consolidate support in Gqeberha ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The choice of Pieter Rademeyer Hall, a well-known venue in Algoa Park, is aimed at drawing significant attendance from residents and DA supporters across Nelson Mandela Bay.
Odendaal emphasised that the time for empty promises was over and that he would stress his vision of action, delivery, and results that can restore confidence in the city’s future.
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