KUGOMPO CITY - Abandoned buildings, neglected sports facilities and millions of rands spent on projects that have been left to decay.
It’s a picture playing out across parts of the Eastern Cape, where some multi-million-rand developments have become white elephants.
The Special Investigating Unit is probing several stalled and defunct projects in Buffalo City Metro.
With the 2026 Local Government Elections approaching, government says these failures should serve as a reminder to voters about the importance of holding municipalities accountable.
The ANC retained control of Buffalo City Metro after securing an outright majority in the 2021 Local Government Elections.
READ: Buffalo City power outage forces residents to throw away Christmas food
The party is hoping to retain its support in 2026, despite growing complaints from residents over service delivery and neglected infrastructure.
Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says the days of a lack of accountability from municipal officials are numbered.
He believes the Local Government Elections could be a watershed moment for South Africa’s political landscape.
Hlabisa says voters should not be discouraged from participating in the elections, stressing that the country’s future lies in their hands.
- eNCA’s Ronald Masinda has more.