NELSON MANDELA BAY, EASTERN CAPE — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are setting their sights on securing a decisive majority in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro during the upcoming Local Government Elections in November. According to EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo, the party is moving beyond its traditional kingmaker role to pursue outright governance across all major metros, intensifying its voter registration drives to capture critical youth votes.
As political parties ramp up their campaigns during the ongoing voter registration weekend, the focus in the Eastern Cape has turned to the highly contested Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. The strategic significance of this registration drive was recently highlighted by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille during her Johannesburg mayoral candidacy speech, where she emphasized that winning wards and municipalities begins with securing voter registration numbers.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, the political landscape remains fiercely competitive. The metro made history as the first in South Africa to experience coalition governance, a situation born out of the African National Congress (ANC) struggling to secure an outright majority. In areas like Ward 25 in Zwide—specifically around the SMB Junior Secondary School—the ANC has traditionally maintained a strong stronghold. However, the EFF has established itself as the second-largest political force in the area and has experienced significant growth across the metro.
The EFF has played a critical kingmaker role in the 2016 and 2021 local government elections. In previous council meetings, when the ANC and DA were neck-and-neck, the EFF’s decision to vote with the DA proved decisive. Now, however, the party’s strategy has shifted from holding the balance of power to taking total control.
“We are aiming to deliver a decisive majority for the EFF in Nelson Mandela Bay,” Thambo stated. He noted that the EFF has been at the center of challenging the ANC’s arrogance not only in Nelson Mandela Bay but also in other key metros including eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Tshwane. Thambo emphasized that the party is fighting “not for coalition purposes but for governance.”
To achieve this ambitious goal, the EFF launched its voter registration drive on March 21. The party has set up registration tables at various voting stations across Zwide, Motherwell, New Brighton, and KwaZakhele. Thambo highlighted the party’s strong appetite for youth engagement during Youth Month, urging young people to register and recognize that their future is in their hands and at the ballot box.
Addressing concerns about the party’s visibility in the metro’s northern areas—regions predominantly known as Coloured communities—Thambo dismissed the idea that the EFF is steering clear of these regions. He assured the public that there are no “no-go areas” for the party and committed to visiting every sub-region to ensure a physical presence.
To maintain accountability within his own ranks, Thambo issued a direct call to action for the public. He urged citizens to use the EFF’s organizational and personal social media platforms to report any voting stations in the Eastern Cape or across South Africa that lack an EFF table.
“If there is a voting station where there is not an EFF table, the people of South Africa must message us,” Thambo said, describing the absence of party representatives at polling stations as an “abdication of duty” by deployed members. Reaffirming that the EFF is fighting “tooth and nail,” Thambo expressed confidence in the party’s ability to emerge victorious and deliver strong governance in the upcoming polls.
