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keep their businesses afloat.

“We are not here to fight with anyone but to build relations with the business community, the municipality and most of all the residents because without them there is no business.”

Local businessman Satch Naidoo expressed his disappointment in the current state of the local municipality and the decline of the town.

He stated that there was a lack of infrastructure and economic development and that the situation was only getting worse.

In addition, Naidoo highlighted the problems of poverty and lack of basic service delivery in the community affecting the poor, along with the high unemployment rate.

“It has become a human rights issue at this time.

“These things cannot be a challenge to the local authority 29 years after democracy.

“As a business person, how do you take your investment here when a continuous supply of electricity and water cannot be provided?

“The infrastructure system has collapsed and potholes are being filled with sand and sabunga, raindrops come and they are open again,” he said.

ActionSA has also stated in a press statement that they were encouraged by the collaborative efforts of opposition parties, civic organisations, and members of the business community in Enoch Mgijima over the past weekend.

They added that the unity demonstrated by these stakeholders instilled hope and provided a clear directive for Eastern Cape residents to unite in rejecting the failing ANC government.

“Enoch Mgijima has been marred by a profound lack of service delivery, pervasive corruption, and poor governance. It is the same municipality where the Hawks conducted a raid on its offices concerning the controversial R15m Lesseyton stadium tender.

“Additionally, it has yet to provide sufficient support for flood victims from earlier this year.

“Compounding these issues, the municipality faces a staggering R1bn Eskom debt.

“The state of affairs in Enoch Mgijima is an excellent reflection or microcosm of the ANC failures in the Eastern Cape, as stated in the recent public protector report and the SA Human Rights Commission report.

These reports highlight the disastrous state of the province, with the SAHRC requesting a state of disaster be declared due to more than 100 child deaths from malnutrition.”

Action SA further stated that the investigation by the public protector has revealed significant shortcomings resulting from a lack of timely, comprehensive, and effective governance and service delivery.

Other organisations present at the initiative included the UDM and the Civic & Ratepayers Association of Enoch Mgijima.