Eighteen political parties and four independent candidates are contesting Endumeni’s eight wards ahead of the November 4 local government elections, with the municipality set to have an expanded 15-seat council.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) will contest Endumeni’s elections for the first time, with the party promising strict accountability from its councillors if elected.

Party MP and KwaZulu-Natal co-ordinator Philip van Staden told a meeting in Dundee that the party had seen “an explosion of interest” as the local government elections approach.

He described KwaZulu-Natal as a tough province but said people had “had enough of talk and want real change”.

“For the first time, we have had so many folk from other communities who traditionally did not see the FF+ as their home. We had many candidates coming forward, but we have a very strict sifting process.

“Following the writing of exams and rigorous interviewing, we filtered this down to 78 candidates across KZN,” he said.

Councillors face strict accountability

Responding to questions from those attending the meeting, Van Staden said the party would closely monitor its councillors if elected.

“Service delivery and serving their community is their job, and we require daily reports. If they fail, they will be replaced – simple as that,” he said.

Asked whether the party would enter into service agreement arrangements with other parties after November 4, Van Staden said it would support a councillor from any party if the decision benefited the town.

“We won’t work with parties just because of convenience. Turning this Endumeni ship around won’t be like adding water. It’s going to take hard work and putting the right people in place to achieve that,” he said.

Van Staden also expressed concern after hearing that most ward committees were not functional and that few residents received feedback from them.

He said the FF+ would review the current system under which senior municipal officials receive bonuses.

“The system is presently just a box-ticking exercise. This will change,” he said.

The FF+ is contesting all eight wards in Endumeni and will also seek seats on the uMzinyathi District Council.