MBDA report finds Central thriving as North End falters

Story audio is generated using AI

The Mandela Bay Development Agency’s (MBDA) interventions have boosted confidence and investment in Central, but North End is showing signs of decline while Kariega remains stable despite emerging challenges.

These are some of the findings of the agency’s 2025/2026 economic impact assessment, released on Tuesday.

The assessment surveyed businesses and residents in three precincts to measure the impact of the agency’s projects on economic activity and public perceptions.

The assessment is designed to help the agency understand how its activities affect both the business environment and the perceptions of residents and property owners in the areas where it operates.

According to the report, Central stands out as a success story.

“Investment by businesses and residents has risen steadily over the last three years, while negative views about crime in the area have dropped sharply and consistently, falling 30 percentage points since 2023,” reads the report.

“Perceptions about the area’s overall cleanliness have also improved — although a lot remains to be done.

“The improved environmental conditions have contributed to greater confidence in Central.

“Cleaner, safer public spaces have likewise helped to attract more private investment, which has risen by 7% in real terms since 2023.”

The report found that more than a third of businesses said turnover had increased over the past five years, while 60% reported stable turnover.

“Employment among surveyed businesses also rose by 39% over the past year.”

The report estimates that MBDA investments in Central generated R4m in additional production and created 55 full-time employment opportunities.

Story audio is generated using AI As her younger brother stepped forward to collect his certificate at Shark Rock Pier in Gqeberha on Thursday, Lisakhanya Myoli could not contain her pride for her sibling, one of 17 new recruits who will help patrol the city’s beachfront. For years, the 28-year-old had survived on temporary jobs with little certainty about the future. On Thursday, he became a qualified tourism safety officer as part of Nelson Mandela Bay’s coastal tourism policing initiative, giving him what his family hopes will be the start of a stable career. The initiative is a partnership between the Tourism Business Council of SA, Mandela Bay Development Agency and the municipality. The beachfront has become a crime hotspot in recent years, with incidents of violent robberies, muggings and theft causing concern. Recently, DA MP Baxolile Nodada and his friend were attacked on Gqeberha’s beachfront. Myoli said: “Before this, he [brother] was only getting small jobs here and there, nothing permanent, and now I see him starting a career. “It was amazing seeing him go up to collect his certificate, and he will finally now be able to start contributing at home. “We are very proud of him.” Among the families cheering from the sidelines was Mekyla van Heerden, whose two-year-old son watched his father, Redeker, also march in the graduation parade. “After he [Redeker] finished studying, he was in and out of jobs, and we waited a long while for this. “We are all so proud of him. This is quite the achievement,” Mekyla said. For Van Heerden, 32, the ceremony marked the end of years of uncertainty. “There is a lot to do, and a lot to take on at the beachfront, but I am ready for the challenge.” For Axolile Masala, 30, the opportunity came just months after she lost her job. The former retail worker, who spent seven years in the sector before being retrenched in January, completed six weeks of training at the traffic college in Greenbushes. “I am so proud of my law enforcement officer certificate.” The training programme has prepared the officers to strengthen safety along the city’s Golden Mile and reinforce public confidence in the area. Economic development and tourism political head Bassie Kamana said the launch of the initiative was a celebration of opportunity, partnership and hope. “We are celebrating Youth Month, and the way we honour the legacy of the sacrifices made by the 1976 youth is through programmes like this that address youth unemployment. “This is a great example of government and strategic partners working together to create opportunities that contribute to economic growth,” he said. “When tourists feel safe, they stay longer.” Acting metro police commissioner Andrew Moses said the programme was the culmination of efforts made by all parties. “Safety is a collaborative effort. Safety has become an aspect that impacts every single person, whether he or she comes to the beachfront for leisure or for work. “Safety allows them to explore the beauty that our city has to offer ... This project gives us a stepping stone to create a safer Nelson Mandela Bay.” MBDA chair Khulile Nzo said he was grateful to see the initiative materialise. “Today, we are moving closer to making this place safer, and we eagerly await the economic opportunities and benefits.” Tourism Business Council of SA chief executive Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa said that the Eastern Cape had the most potential in SA for tourism growth. “But for tourism to thrive, the destination has to be safe. “This is the beginning. With safer beaches, we can focus on other important things.” Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

North End presented a mixed assessment, highlighting that the suburb had started to decline.

“Reported investment has fallen sharply, dropping by 55% over the last year, mainly due to lower investment by local businesses.

“Negative sentiment among both businesses and residents is increasing, with crime, derelict buildings, noise, and poor lighting seen as growing concerns in the area.

Some positive signs, however, are still evident.

“Both businesses and residents point to the MBDA as a key driver for their recent investment decisions, while positive sentiment about the MBDA’s cleaning teams has risen by 14 percentage points since last year.

“These trends suggest that several core issues need to be addressed to prevent further deterioration.”

Kariega remains stable, though early warning signals are evident.

“Lighting, landscaping and congestion levels are still viewed favourably.

“However, these positive views have begun to soften.

“The role of the EPWP cleaning teams in Kariega has been particularly effective at shifting sentiment. Whereas views were largely negative last year, 73% of businesses and residents now express positive sentiment regarding their performance.

“This improvement demonstrates that visible service delivery interventions can rapidly influence public perceptions.

“Maintaining momentum will be essential to prevent gradual erosion of confidence.”

Story audio is generated using AI An urgent application by fired Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) CEO Anele Qaba seeking reinstatement has been struck off the roll by the high court in Gqeberha. Judge Vuyokazi Noncembu delivered the judgment last Thursday. The decision to fire him was made during a special board meeting on March 27. At the time, MBDA board chair Khulile Nzo said they resolved to terminate his employment on the grounds of material breach, misconduct and loss of trust. Earlier this year, Qaba made explosive allegations against the agency’s board, accusing it of systematically undermining governance, interfering in administration and protecting officials purportedly implicated in financial misconduct. He made the allegations in a letter to the deputy mayor, Gary van Niekerk, and co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Zolile Williams. In his letter, Qaba claimed the actions of the newly appointed MBDA board had, from the outset, suggested it was protecting certain officials facing various allegations. On Monday, Qaba said it was unfortunate to lose on urgency, but the judgment was not based on the merits of his case. “We were expecting it could happen. I have already given my legal team instructions to pursue the matter on a normal court roll as per the judgment.” He said the MBDA had no case when it came to the merits. “They know that. I will continue to pursue the matter even if it takes 10 years. I am ready, and I can assure you that in the end I will emerge victorious. Even if I die tomorrow, my legal team has instructions to pursue the matter until justice is served. “In the meantime, the MBDA is banking my money. I have been through this before, and I am more than ready to walk this path again without any fear,” Qaba said. Nzo said the board welcomed the judgment. “We are now focused on stabilising and rebuilding the MBDA to deliver on its mandate. Our immediate task is to turn around project performance to add value to the broader Bay economy.” In her judgment, Noncembu said Qaba was sent a letter on March 24 giving him 48 hours to show why he should not be fired. “The essence of the letter was that the applicant had made various disparaging and contemptuous allegations concerning the board and the affairs of the agency in a letter sent to certain members of the executive and officials of the municipality. “The allegation in the termination notice was that the issues raised in the letter related to internal governance, disciplinary processes, and reports, which are confidential and subject to internal governance structures,” Noncembu said. ‘Serious misconduct’ “The communication of such matters externally without authorisation, the notice continued, which resulted in public dissemination, was regarded as serious misconduct and a material breach of obligations since they were not reported to the board.” According to the judgment, the notice alleged that Qaba had disclosed confidential and non-public agency information to third parties without authorisation in breach of his contractual confidentiality obligations and the agency’s confidentiality and social media policies. It further alleged that his actions had brought, or were likely to bring, the agency into disrepute and had caused a material and irreparable breakdown in trust between himself and the agency. On this basis, the agency argued that Qaba had breached a clause of his employment contract, which permits dismissal where an employee is guilty of conduct warranting dismissal. “In the certificate of urgency, the main basis raised for urgency was the importance of the matter to Qaba, it being alleged that from the communication received it was clearly apparent that dismissal was imminent and [in the] public interest, where it was alleged that without the applicant’s oversight function at the agency, further irregular activities could occur without proper intervention.” Noncembu said the four main grounds raised as a basis for urgency were the predetermined finding of guilt without following procedures, loss of income, public interest, and reputational harm. “It is an absolute requirement to set forth the reason for claiming that substantial redress would not be possible other than via the urgent application launched. Notably, information is scarce on these factors in Qaba’s founding affidavit,” she said. “Even his supplementary affidavit does not address this second leg of the test for urgency. The applicant is silent on why he asserts that he would not be afforded substantial redress in due course. “An attempt is made in the replying affidavit to make a case for urgency by the applicant. This is clearly impermissible, as an applicant is required to make their case in the founding affidavit. Even so, all that the applicant does in the replying affidavit is to list the family’s financial expenses,” Noncembu said. “That on its own tells this court nothing about the exceptional circumstances of his financial hardships, which would warrant the urgent intervention of this court.” She said reputational damage alone does not meet the requirements for urgency. “Courts have remarked that high-earning employees with means are inclined to seek to jump the queue and have their cases argued on an urgent basis, impacting the important principle of equality of employees before the law. “Effectively, the relief he seeks before this court is his immediate reinstatement on an urgent basis, and yet he provides no exceptional circumstances, nor does he explicitly set out reasons such relief should be granted by this court on an urgent basis,” Noncembu said. “He gives no reasons as to why he cannot be afforded substantial redress at a hearing in due course.” Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

MBDA acting CEO Unati Peter said the survey gave a clear picture of how their work was shaping the precincts.

“The results show us where the agency’s interventions are building confidence and attracting investment, and also make it clear where challenges remain.

“Our teams actively use this information to make adjustments to activities and initiatives, and easily identify gaps that can be filled.”

“This information is invaluable to the agency.

“It helps us to understand the impact of our activities on residents and businesses, and the feedback guides us in making better decisions to strengthen urban management and improve the quality of life for people across Nelson Mandela Bay.”

• Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world.

The Herald