‘We are going to end corruption on allocation of RDP houses, and end corruption on the handing out of food parcels and tender irregularities’

A fight to end corruption at municipalities is going to feature prominently in the election manifestos of most opposition parties.

Municipalities around the country are faced with huge problems of service delivery, corrupt politicians holding senior positions, nepotism and skills shortages.

Democratic Alliance spokesman Rob McDonald said the party’s manifesto would promise to stop corruption at municipalities and start efficient service delivery.

He said municipalities governed by the DA at the moment enjoyed efficient service delivery and good governance, while ANC-run municipalities had become a haven for self-interested ANC politicians.

McDonald said the DA would also promise to get rid of the ANC government’s “centralised, rigid approach” to minimum wages.

His party would adopt a more flexible and sensible approach that would guarantee job security for farm workers, make rural communities safe and create land reform that works.

The Pan African Congress of Azania will also promise to end rampant corruption at municipalities and consult communities before taking any decisions.

The PAC deputy president, Themba Godi, said: “Our theme is ‘putting people first’ and we are basically looking at the current situation at municipalities.

“We are going to end corruption on allocation of RDP houses and end corruption on the handing out of food parcels and tender irregularities.”

He said the party would also build local economic opportunities to create jobs.

The United Democratic Movement has committed itself to free water and electricity for the poor, reasonable rates, scrapping of all apartheid-era arrears and appointing only competent people to run municipalities.

The UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa, said his party was dedicated to fair tendering, regular municipal audits and public participation in budgeting, as well as accountability.

First-time participants in local government elections, the Independent Democrats have promised to double the amount of free basic services, water and electricity, which will lead to fewer cut-offs.

The ID leader, Patricia de Lille, said her party would also root out corruption by ensuring that all its officials adhered to a code of conduct while in office.

“We want to do away with corruption as it hampers service delivery.

“The ID is determined to restore order in the institutions of local government to ensure that it fulfils its mandate to deliver quality services to all the people.”

Inkatha Freedom Party spokesman Musa Zondi refused to divulge the details of his party’s manifesto, saying it was not a public document yet.

With acknowledgements to Moipone Malefane and the Sunday Times.