Nelson Mandela Bay is bent but not broken and can still be rebuilt

Nelson Mandela Bay, despite its flaws, remains resilient and capable of reconstruction. This city, beloved by its residents, is experiencing a range of challenges, including poor infrastructure, unreliable services, and an economy unable to reach its full potential. The municipality's own data reveals concerning statistics, such as 63% unaccounted water loss, 30% non-revenue electricity loss, and only 2.5% of municipal infrastructure expenditure allocated to repairs and maintenance.

Additionally, irregular expenditure has risen from R21 billion to R31 billion in the past two years, hindering development opportunities. However, the city does not need its residents merely to be seen as stakeholders; they must be recognized as rights-holders, with a claim to meaningful participation in decisions affecting their lives and dignity.

The distinction between stakeholders and rights-holders is crucial, as the latter are entitled to a greater degree of involvement in decisions that impact their well-being. The city's challenges cannot be solely addressed by repairing broken assets; instead, the focus should be on redefining how the city understands the people it serves.

Residents facing unreliable water, workers without pay due to power outages, and small enterprises losing income due to unreliable services are not just inconveniences for the municipality; they are rights-holders whose dignity, livelihoods, and opportunities are directly influenced by the functioning of public systems. At the same time, the municipality is not merely another stakeholder around the table; it is a primary duty-bearer.

While businesses, organized labor, universities, faith communities, and civil society organizations have important roles, these roles are not equivalent to the constitutional and developmental duties of the state. Unity among rights-holders is essential, as the same institutional failures affect everyone differently. From households with backup electricity to families without an alternative energy source, large companies facing potential closure to small retailers losing stock and income, the consequences of failure vary significantly.

This unity does not require sameness but rather a focus on sharing minimum terms for a dignified city, such as reliable basic services, capable institutions, and mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing commitments. The interconnectedness of the water system, electricity network, industrial economy, natural environment, and social fabric of Nelson Mandela Bay underscores the need to address failures across all parts of the system.

The signing of a social compact in January 2026 represents a step towards accountability and unity among rights-holders, acknowledging the city's significant potential and the need to rebuild it on a foundation of rights and responsibilities.