The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), an entity of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, collaborating with Social Partners in Helenvale would like to invite interest media representatives to attend and cover these community led initiatives aimed against Gender Based Violence.

In addition to strengthening the message against GBV over the 16 days, the Social Partners have dedicated six programmes over 6 days as key highlights of the campaign.

Ashraf Adam previously served as Deputy Chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board and is currently CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency. He also serves as a Board member of the SA Cities Network.

From an historical perspective, the outcome of this week’s local government elections is unsurprising because it follows a pattern prevalent in all post-liberation countries. The parties of liberation tend to behave and perform much like South Africa’s has - start with egalitarian promise and end with self-serving elites. In this respect, the decline and growth of political formations offering various forms of Nirvana was to be expected. These too, follow established historical patterns. In other parts of the world, the consequences of decline in electoral support have led to states of emergency, coups, counter coups, and dictatorships. South Africa’s constitutional system, enabled by active and effective civil society institutions, offers protection from such a fate.