Taxpayer-funded projects raise questions ahead of the eMbalenhle by-election
By The Bulletin | Community Opinion
As the Ward 14 by-election in eMbalenhle draws closer, many residents are asking an uncomfortable question: are government resources being used to boost the ANC’s election campaign?
This ward has long been one of the ANC’s strongholds. But things have changed. Support for the party has been slipping, both locally and nationally. In the 2021 local government elections, the ANC dropped below 50% in Govan Mbeki Municipality for the first time. Then came this year’s national election results, which forced the party into a Government of National Unity.
Now, with a by-election around the corner, it seems all eyes — and government efforts — are suddenly focused on Ward 14.
The story began with the resignation of the previous councillor, Jabu Zwane. His departure didn’t go smoothly. The Speaker of the municipality, Cllr Magagamela, reportedly refused to accept his resignation, and it took pressure from the DA and intervention by the MEC for Cooperative Governance to officially declare a vacancy.
That’s when things got interesting. Almost overnight, municipal activity in Ward 14 increased dramatically. Roads were graded, illegal dumping sites were cleared, and stormwater drains were unblocked. The municipality proudly announced these efforts on social media as part of the Ijima Lokuhlwengisa (Mayoral Service Delivery Programme), saying it was “accelerating service delivery” in eMbalenhle.
But residents can’t help noticing the timing. These are basic services that should have been happening all along, not only when an election is near.
Even more concerning are the political overtones surrounding the projects. ANC-branded gazebos were reportedly seen at events for indigent subsidy registration, where only ANC councillors were visible — no other political parties were invited. Provincial officials and high-ranking politicians have also been making appearances in the ward, cutting sods and hosting community events in quick succession.
Adding to the perception of manipulation, provincial officials — including MEC BK Moeketsi and Deputy Speaker Sam Masango — have made conspicuous appearances in the ward for “oversight” and “sod-turning” events. While these may be legitimate government functions, their clustering in one ward just before a by-election appears more strategic than coincidental.
The optics suggest a coordinated effort to use state programmes, communication platforms, and service delivery campaigns to boost the governing party’s image — effectively funded by taxpayers. In a municipality already struggling with credibility, accountability, and financial mismanagement, such actions risk further eroding public trust.
It may all be legal on paper, but it certainly looks like politics at play. When government programmes and service delivery drives appear only in a ward where a by-election is pending, it’s fair for residents to ask whether these are genuine service improvements — or campaign tactics disguised as them.
People in Ward 14 have been waiting for consistent service delivery for years. They have every right to feel frustrated if those services suddenly appear now, just weeks before they cast their votes.
The truth is, communities should not have to wait for elections to see government in action. Clean streets, working roads, and functioning drains are not favours — they’re basic rights.
The upcoming by-election is an important one, and the outcome will carry symbolic weight. If the ANC loses this ward — especially to the DA — it will signal that voters are ready for change, even in areas that were once considered untouchable.
But beyond party politics, this moment is about accountability. Residents must ask: Who is paying for all these sudden improvements? And why now?
Ward 14 deserves lasting service delivery, not short-term campaigns.