Christo Botha was elected as the DAs mayoral candidate for the City of uMhlathuze in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Image: Zainul Dawood
The Concerned Residents Civic Association (CRCA) in the City of uMhlathuze stated that an enormous task lies ahead for Christo Botha to correct past errors if he is elected mayor.
Jéan Gerber, the founding director of CRCA, was responding to Botha's nomination as the DA’s mayoral candidate for the City of uMhlathuze in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Botha is currently the deputy mayor of the City of uMhlathuze municipality, while IFP Councillor Xolani Ngwezi is the mayor.
The DA regards the municipality as one of three key municipalities where they intend to have mayors. The others are uMngeni and eThekwini Municipality.
The City of uMhlathuze comprises Richards Bay, Empangeni, eSikhaleni, Port Durnford, Vulindlela, Felixton, eNseleni, and Ngwelezane, as well as the rural areas under Inkosi uDube, Inkosi uMkhwanazi, Inkosi uKhoza, and Inkosi uZungu.
The municipality boasts internationally acclaimed game reserves, well-known wetlands, and authentic Zulu Cultural Villages.
Botha, who has served in the municipality for 14 years and possesses in-depth knowledge of residents' concerns, announced his priorities would be boosting tourism, service delivery, and focusing on the municipality's future.
“I have walked the streets of our neighbourhoods and worked with officials and councillors to resolve the everyday challenges that communities face. I have seen firsthand the strength, resilience, and determination of the people of Richards Bay, Empangeni, and our surrounding communities,” he said.
Botha added that the municipality is filled with hardworking people who simply want what every South African deserves: safe neighbourhoods, reliable services, economic opportunity, and a municipality that works.
“The City of uMhlathuze is one of the most important economic engines in KwaZulu-Natal. We have a world-class deep-water port, expanding logistics and industrial sectors, growing commercial developments, and enormous potential to create jobs and attract investment.
“But potential alone is not enough. To unlock that potential, we need clean governance, competent administration, and leadership that puts residents first.”
Botha said the municipality received a clean and unqualified audit report for the 11th consecutive year.
“Residents deserve a municipality that works for them, not for political interests. If elected as mayor, my focus will be clear. First, since we became part of the current coalition government, we worked hard to improve service delivery; however, there is still a lot of work to be done.”
He intends to expand the local economy, develop the port, encourage industrial investment, and promote new commercial developments that present enormous opportunities.
“Our role as a municipality is to create an environment where businesses can grow, investors feel confident, and jobs are created. I will aim to cut red tape to enable businesses to enter the local economy with greater ease and confidence,” he said.
Gerber described Botha as a hands-on deputy mayor with an on-the-ground approach to solving problems.
Gerber said that with the winds of change in the air, there is hope for a better future regarding safety and security, service delivery, and transparency in local government.
“There is hope for the residents of Umhlathuze now that Christo has been nominated. It would be a great day for the communities under Christo should he become the mayor. The basics were neglected by the previous ruling party, and I know it has been an enormous task for Christo and his team to correct the errors of the past.”
The City of uMhlathuze council consists of 67 seats and 34 wards. As of late 2023, the seat allocation is: IFP: 25 seats, the ANC: 25 seats, DA: eight seats, EFF: six seats, and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), National Freedom Party (NFP), and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus/VF+) with one seat each.
The municipality is governed by a coalition partnership comprising the IFP, DA, ACDP, NFP, and VF Plus.
Christo Botha was elected as the DA’s mayoral candidate for the City of uMhlathuze.
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