DA national chairperson Dean Macpherson announced Rob Bentele and Leon Garbade as mayoral candidates for uMhlathuze and Ray Nkonyeni, respectively, ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
Image: Hope Ntanzi/ IOL
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has announced its mayoral candidates for uMhlathuze and Ray Nkonyeni ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
The party also announced the defection of ActionSA’s former KwaDukuza mayoral candidate, Halalisani Ndlovu.
DA national chairperson Dean Macpherson announced Rob Bentele as the party’s mayoral candidate for uMhlathuze and Leon Garade as its candidate for Ray Nkonyeni during a media briefing in Durban on Thursday.
Ndlovu, who was recently named ActionSA’s mayoral candidate for KwaDukuza, has joined the DA and will support the party’s campaign in the municipality.
DA national campaign manager Ashor Sarupen said Ndlovu’s decision reflected what he described as the growing consolidation of voters, activists and community leaders behind the DA ahead of the elections.
Sarupen said Ndlovu had carefully considered his decision and concluded that splitting the opposition vote could result in the ANC remaining in government, or the EFF and MK Party gaining control.
“We welcome Halalisani because he shares that objective and recognises that the best opportunity to bring meaningful change to KwaDukuza is through a strong DA,” Sarupen said.
The DA’s KwaDukuza mayoral candidate, Privi Makhan, is campaigning on fixing failing services, ensuring accountable government and making sure the municipality works for all residents.
Sarupen said Ndlovu brought valuable local experience to the DA and would work alongside Makhan to strengthen the party’s campaign in KwaDukuza.
Macpherson described Bentele as a community-oriented activist who had undertaken initiatives in uMhlathuze and was known for his participation in the television reality show Survivor.
He joked that if Bentele had managed to survive Survivor, he could survive politics.
Garbade was described as a seasoned councillor, politician, businessman and enthusiastic fisherman.
Accepting his nomination, Garbade said his candidacy was not about him but about Ray Nkonyeni and addressing the problems residents had endured under what he described as a “now-fractured ANC rule”.
“I accept the responsibility as mayoral candidate with one clear promise. I will work every day to fix what has been neglected, to restore trust in our local government, to put Ray Nkonyeni on the path where basic services work, communities feel safe, and jobs are created,” Garbade said.
He identified crime, corruption, job creation and basic service delivery as the four key areas he would prioritise.
DA mayoral candidate for Ray Nkonyeni, Leon Garbade, during the party’s media briefing in Durban on Thursday ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
Image: Hope Ntanzi / IOL
Garade said his crime-fighting plans included specialised municipal police units targeting gang violence and gender-based violence, as well as a municipal detective force and environmental police.
He also proposed CCTV control rooms, gunfire monitoring technology and drone technology where appropriate, as well as a municipal court focused on by-law enforcement.
Garade said he would pursue merit-based appointments and end cadre deployment, while imposing stricter financial discipline on the municipality.
“There will be no R21 roll for toilet paper. Residents deserve a municipality that respects public money and delivers public outcomes,” he said.
He also pledged to focus on economic growth by simplifying rules for businesses, improving public infrastructure and creating a stable environment for investment.
Garade said his priorities included fixing roads and addressing water insecurity along the Ray Nkonyeni coast.
Although water is not directly a municipal function, he said the municipality still had a responsibility to work with the uGu District Municipality to find solutions.
DA mayoral candidate for uMhlathuze, Rob Bentele, during the party’s media briefing in Durban on Thursday ahead of the November 4 local government election.
Image: Hope Ntanzi/ IOL
Bentele, who has never previously served in government, said he accepted the nomination with humility and determination.
“Some of you know me from Survivor. Yes, I've been through hardships. But my hardships meant nothing compared to the hardships of the people of the City of Umhlathuze,” he said.
Bentele said his lack of government experience was a strength. He entered politics because he cared about his community.
He said his training would be fast-tracked with the backing of the DA.
“As a mayor, I would fix the City of Umhlathuze. We have so much potential that it means nothing if the people are still suffering with broken infrastructure and unemployment,” he said.
Bentele said his campaign would focus on clean and accountable governance, listening to residents and taking action on their concerns.
The DA said it was positioning itself as an alternative to established political parties ahead of the November 4 elections.
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