Cape Town cracks down on illegal election posters ahead of LGE

Residents of KuGompo in the Eastern Cape face ongoing challenges ahead of the 4 November elections, with water shortages, high unemployment, and crime plaguing the area. Opposition candidate Mkhululi Dlevu of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) claims that the current ANC-led administration has failed residents in terms of water supply, job creation, and safety.

Dlevu criticizes the municipality as being run by people who are "incompetent" and lack necessary skills, resulting in unreliable water supply, failing infrastructure, and disputed water bills. He also addresses unfinished infrastructure projects, such as an unfinished swimming pool in Mdantsane's NU 2, which could lead to Olympians and world champions emerging from the area.

Rural communities suffer disproportionately, with many villages lacking adequate housing and an hour away from the nearest public hospital, with ambulance response times extending to another hour or more. High unemployment and allegations of cronyism and "sex-for-jobs" are prevalent in the municipality. Crime remains a significant issue, with only 80 law enforcement officers for over 800,000 residents.

The Melisizwe Mandela Foundation argues that the challenges lie in implementation, accountability, and translating public resources into improved lives for ordinary people. Makana, located 2 hours away, also grapples with service delivery issues, including protests over smart meters and ballooning water projects that yield little results.

ANC councillor Mzobanzi Nkwentsha defends his government's efforts to address the "albatross" of two disclaimer audit opinions and the James Kleynhans water treatment works, which has seen increased costs from R160 million to over R400 million. Nkwentsha argues that the municipality is working to improve water pumping to reach residents and that prepaid smart meters aim to eliminate manual billing errors, protecting residents rather than enfranchising them.

Both Buffalo City and Makana are currently under ANC control, and Dlevu and Nkwentsha express optimism about their respective parties' chances in the upcoming elections.