ANC comes under attack at PE debate

The election debate at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. Photo: Twitter

The election debate at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. Photo: Twitter

Published Jul 27, 2016

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Port Elizabeth - The ANC came in for a hammering during an election debate at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday night.

Opposition political parties including the EFF, UDM, and the DA seemed to close ranks, launching a scathing attacks on the ANC.

The ruling party was accused of having failed the Nelson Mandela Bay metro's residents through poor service delivery.

The ANC was represented by councillor Rory Riordan, the UDM by mayoral candidate Mongameli Bobani, the DA by Ngqura Constituency leader and MP Nqaba Bhanga, and the EFF by national chairman Dali Mpofu.

The opposition leaders laid all the social ills dogging the metro, including corruption, unemployment, poor education, maladministration, squarely at the ANC's door.

Bobani said: “UDM is going to take over on the 3rd August. We will deal with issues of corruption head on. If an official has been suspended, disciplinary processes against them would be finalised within three months to save the metro money.”

Mpofu characterised the ANC as a haven of corruption, saying the fish rots at the head.

“... The president is corrupt ... Danny Jordaan is also wanted by Fifa,” he said.

Jordaan, the metros mayor, is accused of having played a crucial role in the bribery scandal relating to the 2010 Fifa World Cup. He has refuted the allegations.

Bhanga said they would change the fortunes of the metro in I'm the same manner they did in the City of Cape Town, where they govern.

The metro was rated the best in the world, said the former COPE and ANC leader.

Bhanga said they wanted to build a democratic society where there was peace and tolerance.

He said they would eradicate the corruption eating away at the metro's coffers.

Bobani said the ANC had failed to eradicate the dehumanising bucket toilet system and build proper housing.

Riordan said the ANC was the only organisation that had a five-year plan to address the metro's challenges.

Mpofu said it was a disgrace that the ANC was telling them about a plan.

“They should be telling us about a report card.”

He said they would abolish the tender system that had been used by the ruling party in the metro for “thieving and corruption”.

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Election Bureau

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