Daily Dispatch

Battle lines being drawn

THE battle for the control of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro will no doubt be the story to follow as we approach the coming local government elections.

It is no secret that the DA wants to wrest control of the biggest metro in the Eastern Cape from the ANC.

Also waiting in the wings are the Economic Freedom Fighters and the United Front – expected to launch in the coming weeks – and these could have a say in who ends up governing the city.

But the real contest will, in all likelihood, be between the ANC and the DA.

While the DA will prepare to mount the challenge, the ANC will not hand over political power without putting up a fight – be it to the DA or any opposition party for that matter.

Its recent actions however, suggest the ruling party recognises the threat posed by these parties. That is why a mayoral committee reshuffle is expected when the party’s national leadership returns to Port Elizabeth in two weeks.

The ANC does not admit this is an attempt to fend off a challenge from the DA, but during a visit to Port Elizabeth earlier this week, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe confirmed that the ruling party was looking to strengthen its leadership capacity – both politically and administratively.

While he sidestepped claims that they were feeling pressure from the opposition parties ahead of next year’s local government elections, he enigmatically stated: “We are a political movement working in the same space as all other political parties. I am not sure whether we should be worried about political parties that are in opposition to us. What we should be worried about is what we are doing to fulfil the aspirations and interests of the people who voted for us – that is what is preoccupying us.”

Those, including this newspaper, watching the battle-lines being from the sidelines, are in for an exciting few months. If you found the last few months of South African politics exciting, wait until the 2016 election campaigns are launched.

The latest event, in which student politics reached a turning point last weekend when the DA Student Organisation, won a historic election at the University of Fort Hare, will make the contest even more exciting.

Daso’s victory was made sweeter by the fact that ANC heavyweights, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba had come out to campaign for Sasco, but failed to convince students to support the ANC-aligned student body.

All this excitement will however, be meaningless if exchanges of political power – at whatever level – do not translate to a better delivery of services.