The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Civil Society Coalition has issued a stern warning over the continued collapse of service delivery across Nelson Mandela Bay, saying the metro is now in a state of paralysis as a result of persistent leadership failures, poor governance, weak accountability and an inability to execute the most basic functions of local government.
Nearly five months after the launch of the Service Delivery Scorecard on 28 January 2026, every priority area identified remains firmly in the red. Despite repeated engagements, detailed recommendations and practical interventions proposed by civil society, the municipality has failed to implement meaningful corrective action while residents, communities and businesses continue to bear the devastating consequences of worsening service delivery failures.
The Coalition said the city’s decline is no longer characterised by isolated service delivery failures but by a systemic collapse across multiple functions of government.
“The evidence before us points to a city in paralysis. Essential services are failing simultaneously, infrastructure is collapsing, investor confidence is deteriorating and municipal leadership continues to offer apologies instead of accountability, urgency and decisive action. Residents and businesses are being forced to navigate a city that is increasingly unable to perform the most basic functions expected of local government. This is not a temporary setback or an isolated crisis. It is the consequence of sustained leadership failures and years of neglect,” said Coalition Chairperson Monga Peter.
One of the clearest indicators of the city’s decline is the recent confirmation that the Ironman event will relocate to Mossel Bay after being one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s flagship events for more than two decades. While organisers have adopted a diplomatic approach in explaining the move, the Coalition said the underlying reasons are evident.
The reality is that deteriorating infrastructure, declining public safety, unreliable service delivery, worsening road conditions, recurring water and electricity outages and the municipality’s failure to address longstanding challenges have significantly damaged Nelson Mandela Bay’s reputation as a host destination for major events and investment.
The loss of Ironman Championship represents far more than the departure of a sporting event. The event contributed an estimated R80 million annually to the local economy through tourism, accommodation, hospitality and related spending. More significantly, it signals a loss of confidence in the city’s ability to provide a functional environment capable of supporting major international events. Sadly, the Coalition believes the likelihood of the event returning to Nelson Mandela Bay is remote unless there is a dramatic reversal in the city’s fortunes.
At the same time, the metro is facing widespread water outages affecting communities and businesses across Nelson Mandela Bay. Entire suburbs have been left without water for extended periods as a result of failing infrastructure and inadequate maintenance. Businesses are incurring substantial additional costs to secure alternative water supplies and maintain operations, while households are being deprived of one of the most basic Constitutional rights.
These disruptions are placing further strain on an economy already grappling with high unemployment, declining investment and sluggish growth. Every outage, service interruption and infrastructure failure further erodes confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay as a place to invest, operate a business and create jobs.
Equally concerning are reports that municipal call centres have become dysfunctional because service providers have not been paid, leaving municipal employees unable to effectively perform their duties and residents unable to log service delivery complaints or access assistance. This points to a municipality that is increasingly unable to execute even its most basic administrative responsibilities.
Furthermore, the recent flooding disaster provided another stark example of the municipality’s deteriorating capacity. The Coalition has it in good record that Gift of the Givers was required to provide fuel for emergency response vehicles to assist affected communities because the municipality was unable to fund this critical function itself. While the intervention by civil society organisations is commendable, it raises deeply troubling questions about the municipality’s preparedness, financial management and ability to respond to emergencies.
Adding to these concerns is the fact that the municipality continues to forfeit infrastructure grant funding to National Treasury due to its inability to spend allocated budgets. At a time when residents are enduring collapsing infrastructure, deteriorating roads, recurring water and electricity outages and failing public facilities, there can be no justification for returning funds specifically intended to address these challenges.
The Coalition noted that these failures continue despite the Service Delivery Scorecard clearly identifying practical interventions required to stabilise and improve municipal performance.
Critical interventions identified in the Scorecard remain unattended:
- The Office of the Executive Mayor has failed to deliver a credible, council-approved turnaround strategy with measurable targets and accountability mechanisms.
- The City Manager’s Office has failed to establish a binding accountability framework and has not ensured transparency in senior appointments or meaningful stakeholder participation in governance processes.
- The Mayoral Committee has failed to secure the appointment of a suitably qualified and competent permanent Municipal Manager, leaving a critical leadership vacuum at the centre of the administration.
- The Office of the Chief Financial Officer has failed to address procurement inefficiencies and supply chain shortcomings that continue to delay infrastructure projects and service delivery programmes.
- The Electricity and Energy Directorate has failed to implement funded plans to reduce electricity losses, address recurring outages and safeguard critical infrastructure.
- The Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate has failed to tackle excessive water losses and deliver the maintenance and upgrades required to prevent recurring water disruptions.
- The Safety and Security Directorate, Metro Police and other law enforcement stakeholders have failed to implement sustained interventions to combat crime, protect infrastructure and improve public safety.
“The evidence of decline is now visible across every aspect of city life. Major international events are leaving the city, businesses are losing confidence, residents are enduring prolonged water and electricity outages, municipal systems are failing, roads continue to deteriorate and critical public infrastructure is collapsing. Nelson Mandela Bay is in a state of paralysis. This level of deterioration is not accidental; it is the direct consequence of failed leadership, weak accountability and an administration that has repeatedly failed to execute its most basic responsibilities,” Peter said.
The Coalition warned that the consequences of continued inaction will be severe and long-lasting. Investor confidence will continue to deteriorate, businesses will increasingly look elsewhere to invest and expand, tourism opportunities will diminish, economic growth will stagnate, job creation will decline and the city’s competitiveness will continue to weaken.
At the same time, residents will bear the greatest burden through worsening service delivery, declining living standards, increasing safety concerns and reduced economic opportunities.
Civil society remains committed to constructive engagement and partnership under the Social Compact. However, that commitment cannot be mistaken for silence in the face of ongoing failure.
The Coalition therefore calls on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to:
- Immediately adopt and implement a funded, time-bound turnaround plan aligned to the Service Delivery Scorecard.
- Establish a joint monitoring and accountability framework with civil society and key stakeholders.
- Prioritise the appointment of competent, suitably qualified leadership in critical positions.
- Ensure full transparency in procurement processes, appointments and service delivery performance.
- Publish regular public progress reports against all Scorecard commitments.
“The relocation of Ironman, the loss of an estimated R80 million in annual economic activity, city-wide water outages, failing municipal systems and the continued deterioration of critical infrastructure should serve as a wake-up call. These are not isolated incidents. Together, they paint the picture of a city in paralysis. Unless urgent corrective action is taken, Nelson Mandela Bay faces the very real prospect of further economic decline, declining investment, lost jobs, shrinking tourism opportunities and lasting damage to its reputation as a place to live, work, invest and do business.
“The people of Nelson Mandela Bay deserve answers, accountability and action. They deserve leadership that acknowledges the scale of the crisis and is prepared to make the difficult decisions required to reverse it. Excuses, apologies and empty commitments can no longer substitute for delivery. The time for promises has passed. The time for decisive action is now,” concluded Peter.
Monga Peter (Chairperson of NMBCSC)
