With just three weeks left to the local government elections on November 1, political parties are expected to ramp up their election campaigns to woo voters across the country.
ANC, DA and EFF leaders have been criss-crossing SA in recent weeks, promising voters job opportunities, better municipal services and good governance if they vote for their respective political parties.
Makhosi Khoza, a former ANC MP and now eThekwini mayoral candidate for ActionSA, a political start-up led by former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, is on Monday set to inspect “abandoned and dilapidated buildings” in the Durban CBD.
The party says it seeks to restore the eThekwini municipality to its “former glory by implementing and enforcing strict bylaws once in office after the upcoming local government elections”.
“By so doing, this will alleviate pressure on rate-paying residents in areas such as Morningside who have to contend with high levels of crime, as well as create a safer business environment within the CBD which enables businesses to thrive,” the party said.
On Tuesday, DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Mpho Phalatse will hold an “Editors Lunch” at Inanda Club in Johannesburg to share her vision for the city and why she wants to be the metro’s first citizen.
Phalatse, who served as health and social development member of the mayoral committee (MMC) during Mashaba’s tenure as executive mayor, has previously promised to address the R200bn infrastructure backlog in the metro by opening up the city for more private sector involvement, and to create a conducive environment for businesses to operate and create jobs. She has said there was “great appetite” from the private sector to help the city address the infrastructure backlog.
DA leader John Steenhuisen will address a rally in Upington on Monday and is also expected to hold a meeting with business stakeholders in the Northern Cape city. ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is also taking the fight for votes to the Northern Cape on Monday and will be campaigning in Kimberley. EFF leader Julius Malema will be campaigning in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga on Monday.
Trade, industry & competition deputy minister Fikile Majola and Gauteng economic development MEC Parks Tau are set to “evaluate progress” in the construction of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on Tuesday.
The project, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019 as part of his investment drive, has resulted in a R15.8bn investment by the Ford Motor Company and a further R4.3bn investment from automotive components suppliers located in the SEZ. The project is expected to create more than 2,088 jobs.
Friday is the deadline for objections to the long list of eight people Ramaphosa’s advisory panel has named as candidates to become SA’s new chief justice. Navi Pillay heads the panel that will recommend who should fill the post.
Deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo is among those tipped for the role. The others include public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, judge president John Hlophe, justice Mandisa Maya, justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, Wallace Mgoqi, judge president Dunstan Mlambo, and Alan Nelson.
The incoming chief justice will start in the job once Ramaphosa’s six-week advisory process has run its course. He has set out a plan meant to promote transparency and encourage public participation.
Chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng took long leave in May and retires on Monday.
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