Hopes NMB council to meet
THE Nelson Mandela Bay municipal council will again attempt to convene a meeting on Thursday after previous attempts failed.
The DA-led council has been unable to form a quorum after the controversial vote of no-confidence in United Democratic Movement (UDM) council and deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani in August.
Following the motion, the EFF, ANC, AIC and the United Front have stayed away in protest.
However, after a meeting between the DA and EFF two weeks ago, and the ANC confirming attendance to the council on Thursday, there appears to be hope the meeting will quorate.
ANC councillor Bicks Ndoni said they stayed away from the August 24 council meeting because of the attitude of the DA towards issues they felt were important to the people of the Bay.
“We also refused to just be used to rubber stamp a R200-million Ironman race expenditure. And it should be known that we did not just sit at home, we came to the venue but remained in our caucus rooms,” said Ndoni.
Yesterday, the DA NMB caucus was joined by the DA national leader Mmusi Maimane.
The party said Maimane’s visit, which came just days before the council meeting, was a “courtesy” visit.
His spokeswoman, Portia Adams said Maimane’s visit to the DA caucus in NMB was part of his routine, which was to keep in touch with mayors in all municipalities where the DA governs.
“He meets all the mayors where the DA governs from time to time,” said Adams.
Eastern Cape DA leader Nqaba Bhanga said the NMB caucus was confident it would conclude its business on Thursday and that the visit by Maimane should not be associated with the upcoming council meeting.
“Mmusi is a member of the DA caucus. He can come in any time just as much as I can be in any Eastern Cape caucus,” said Bhanga. —