LOCAL GOVERNMENT31 JUL 2026Minister urged to rescue collapsing Gqeberha metroGqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, is facing a severe service delivery collapse due to mismanagement and political…Brian Sokutu5 min read

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s mayor and her deputy don’t talk while residents suffer Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) has gone from having first-rate infrastructure and a thriving automotive industry-driven economy to reeling from mismanagement of public funds, potholes, malfunctioning street lights and more, signalling a service delivery collapse. The deterioration has led to a veteran anti-apartheid activist this week calling for the intervention of national government. As leader of the Abantu Integrity Movement (Aim), Mkhuseli Jack has set in motion a bid for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal Council to be dissolved.

He said the deterioration bordered on violating the constitutional rights of ratepayers and the business community. Reflecting on what he described as “the governing coalition in turmoil”, Jack said that while residents struggled with brown water coming out of their taps because of broken infrastructure and faced prolonged electricity outages, the mayor and her deputy, Gary van Niekerk, were “busy with their ugly public spat”. “They are not on speaking terms with each other and are exchanging bitter recriminations in the media, blaming each other for the service delivery collapse. “While the ship is sinking, they still have time for petty political battles.