Statement by Andrew Whitfield MPL – DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader
Six of the DA’s Eastern Cape Mayoral Candidates for the 2026 Local Government Election launched their pledges to the people today.
Retief Odendaal MPL (for Nelson Mandela Bay), Mayor Hattingh Bornman (for Kouga), Cllr Luvuyo Sizani (for Makana), Cllr Bettie Lawens (for Inxuba Yethemba), Cllr Lorraine Smith-Johnson (for Blue Crane Route) and Cllr Eldrige Ruiters (for Dr Beyers Naude) shared their visions for their municipalities.
Bettie Lawens has pledged to the residents of Inxuba Yethemba that the DA will deliver a safe and clean municipality, electricity to every household, attract investment and create jobs, stop corruption and improve infrastructure and housing opportunities.
For Nelson Mandela Bay: Retief Odendaal has pledged to make Nelson Bay safe and clean, deliver water and electricity, attract Investment and jobs, stopping corruption and improve infrastructure and housing opportunities.
Mayor Hattingh Bornman has committed to Keep Kouga Working and has pledged jobs and economic growth, lower electricity costs through innovation, safer communities, advanced by-law enforcement and dignity through informal settlement upgrades. Kouga is a bastion of DA service delivery, in the Eastern Cape, and must remain so after this election.
For Makana: Luvuyo Sizani has pledged a safer Makana, more jobs through a stronger local economy, better basic services, honest government that works for you and a Makana that works for everyone.
For Dr Beyers Naude Municipality: Eldrige Ruiters has pledged to cut waste and restore financial discipline, fix the basics, open the municipality to communities and partnerships, restore accountability, transparency and good governance and put residents at the heart of municipal decision-making.
For Blue Crane Route: Lorraine Smith-Johnson has pledged to build a clean, safe and corruption-free municipality, restore basic services, create jobs and grow the local economy, deliver honest government for all create and municipality that work for all.
These are not only the pledges of six DA mayoral candidates in the Eastern Cape, they form part of the DA’s promise to the people of South Africa made in our 2026 Local Government Manifesto.
The DA’s Manifesto provides DA solutions to deal with corruption, services, crime/safety and jobs/local economy.
For these pledges to become reality the people of Nelson Mandela Bay, Kouga, Dr Beyers Naude, Inxuba Yethemba, Makana and Blue Crane Route have the power to unite behind the DA, and to elect a stable government that is not bound to coalition politics.
The DA will get municipalities working for all.