- Former mayor Retief Odendaal says he will bring “relief” from corruption and restore trust in Nelson Mandela Bay’s government.
- The DA says coalition governments failed the metro and it now aims for an outright majority in 2026.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) launched its Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral campaign on Monday, with candidate Retief Odendaal promising to bring “relief” from corruption and poor service delivery.
The event took place at the Pieter Rademeyer Hall in Algoa Park, where DA supporters gathered to hear Odendaal’s plan to “get Nelson Mandela Bay working again.”
Odendaal, a former Bay mayor, served from September 2022 to May 2023 in a 10-party coalition government. He said coalition politics had failed the metro, allowing corruption and instability to thrive.
“While I was Executive Mayor for almost nine months, our government managed to stabilise the city’s finances for the first time in years,” said Odendaal.
“We achieved what the ANC couldn’t do in over a decade.”
He said his administration received the municipality’s first unqualified audit in 12 years and took decisive action against corrupt officials.
DA leader John Steenhuisen told the crowd that Odendaal represents “relief” for Nelson Mandela Bay.
“He will relieve us of corruption, maladministration and the crooks sitting in city hall,” Steenhuisen said.
Provincial chair Yusuf Cassim said smaller coalition partners had “sold out” to work with the ANC when Odendaal’s administration was removed.
Odendaal’s vision for the metro includes safer streets, a citywide camera network, zero tolerance for corruption, and economic growth through investment and job creation.
The DA said it is confident Odendaal will bring back stability and accountability to the metro.
Pictured above: DA mayoral candidate Retief Odendaal with party leader John Steenhuisen at the Nelson Mandela Bay campaign launch.
Image source: DA Eastern Cape
