PIETERMARITZBURG, KwaZulu-Natal — The battle for the Msunduzi council elections is intensifying as smaller political parties and independent candidates campaign across Pietermaritzburg, hoping to capitalize on widespread voter frustration over severe service delivery failures. With the local government elections scheduled for November 4, opposition groups are positioning themselves as the solution to a municipality grappling with crumbling infrastructure and financial mismanagement.
A Municipality in Crisis
Residents in the capital city continue to voice deep frustration over poor basic services, including uncollected refuse in the central business district, frequent water and electricity interruptions, unmaintained roads, and housing shortages. Locals report paying monthly for services they do not receive, highlighting a deep sense of injustice and unfairness regarding how municipal funds are managed.
Compounding these daily struggles, the municipality is reportedly facing over R9 billion in debt owed to it. Campaigners attribute this financial shortfall to a severe lack of accountability and a governing party that is both unable and unwilling to address the crisis, leaving municipal officials failing to perform their basic duties.
ACDP Pushes for Accountability and Basic Governance
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), which currently holds only one seat in the council, is aggressively campaigning to expand its proportional representation. ACDP spokesperson Mr. Rienus Niemand emphasized that the party’s platform is built on honesty, sincerity, and integrity, rooted in Christian values.
“Far too many of our municipalities are crumbling under this kind of lack of service delivery. Simple lack of doing what municipalities are geared to do,” Mr. Niemand stated.
He noted that the ACDP has utilized its oversight committee to successfully channel financial and corruption issues to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Public Protector. Mr. Niemand also highlighted the party’s instrumental role in previous Section 139 and Section 106 administrative interventions, ensuring that officials and politicians are held accountable without political interference. “The ACDP will ensure that officials do their work without fear or favor. No politics involved. Let’s just do service delivery,” he added.
Active Citizens Coalition Focuses on Social Well-being
Meanwhile, the Active Citizens Coalition (ACC) is also vying for council seats, arguing that the municipality’s challenges extend far beyond failing infrastructure. A spokesperson for the coalition highlighted the severe social decay driven by unemployment, including rising drug abuse, prostitution, and abandoned babies on the streets.
“Being a counselor is not only about infrastructure. It’s about seeing to the well-being of your resident,” the spokesperson explained. They emphasized that their team is on the ground working 24/7 to address community needs, contrasting their efforts with current councilors who allegedly shut their doors after voting time. “We are actually doing most of the work that our current councils are not doing.”
Independent Voices Urge Community Unity
Independent candidates are also making inroads by urging voters to look beyond traditional political affiliations. In Ward 34, independent candidate Warren Kruger is campaigning on a platform of community unity and putting residents first.
“I have been working in this community for over 5 years, if not maybe 10, and I see the struggles. I know what the people need,” Kruger said. “We are now saying the time of politics is no more. We need to put the people first because all we seem to be is just a number at this time of the year.” He is focused on uniting the ward to make a tangible, localized difference.
The Call to the Ballot Box
As the November 4 elections approach, the growing number of political choices presents voters with a critical decision. Community leaders and candidates are urging residents not to remain silent or abstain from voting out of frustration.
Instead, voters are being encouraged to use their ballots to hold incompetent parties accountable. The prevailing message from both smaller parties and independents is that residents should not be ashamed to move away from established organizations if they prove incompetent, and that a different choice at the ballot box is the only way to produce the service delivery results the Msunduzi municipality desperately needs.
