Mandela Bay vote on hold as more facts sought

Nelson Mandela Bay deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani has received a temporary stay of execution from a motion of no confidence against him.

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip confirmed on Wednesday that the motion, which had been planned for Thursday in the council, was postponed because councillors needed as many facts as possible to be placed on the table.

Trollip’s and Bobani’s relationship has been characterised by volatility, which both the DA and United Democratic Movement (UDM) have tried to deal with at a national level.

Nelson Mandela Bay has been governed by a shaky coalition government since the ANC was unseated in 2016. The DA was propelled to power by a deal it entered into with the UDM, Freedom Front-Plus and the Congress of the People after the local government elections.

Trollip said information and reports were outstanding that would affect some of the agenda items for the council meeting on Thursday, including the vote of no confidence.

The speaker had been consulted about postponing the council meeting, he said.

The outstanding information pertained to Bobani as well as a forensic investigation by PricewaterhouseCoopers into irregular and unauthorised payments. There were also investigations outstanding about Expanded Public Works Programme workers and litter pickers.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said on Wednesday that Bobani was ready to respond in council to all allegations against him by Trollip.

Bobani’s alleged “erratic behaviour has led to instability in this government and has on a number of occasions unnecessarily delayed important council business and service delivery”, reads the notice tabled to council calling for the motion of no confidence in Bobani.

Holomisa challenged Trollip to table in council any evidence he had to back his allegations against Bobani or the findings of any inquiry, if one had been done — in which case, the council had the last word.

“I doubt very much that Bobani has violated any rules and any regulations,” he said.

Holomisa said DA leader Mmusi Maimane, with whom he had met in Cape Town this week, had told him he would speak to DA members about the motion on Bobani.