UDM’s Bobani keeps mayoral chains
DA back on opposition benches after ruling
“We won. We won. We won‚” Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani shouted out in jubilation after a court victory against opposition parties on Thursday.
Judge Elna Revelas dismissed a court application by the DA and its coalition partners ACDP and Cope‚ who wanted the court to set aside decisions taken at a controversial August 27 council meeting‚ where Athol Trollip was removed as mayor.
After Revelas read out the ruling and order‚ the gallery‚ made up of supporters of the various political parties‚ broke out into song and people ushered the new leaders towards the steps of the court‚ where they were met by more supporters.
Meanwhile‚ Trollip said they would abide by the Port Elizabeth High Court’s decision and would return to the opposition benches‚ fighting corruption like they did before.
Trollip said he believed the judgment was based on a technicality regarding the membership of DA councillor Mbulelo Manyati‚ who “sold us out”.
“It’s quite extraordinary because he said he was leaving the DA and took it a step further and crossed the benches and sat in the benches of the ANC. We’ve seen this treachery before‚ the floor-crossing of people who are desperate to get into power‚ get hold of patronage and will do anything to get that‚” Trollip said.
“We made three commitments prior to the election – that we would stop corruption‚ improve service delivery and grow the economy. I believe two of those we can still fulfil in the benches of the opposition‚ namely stopping corruption.
“We’ll expose it and secondly we’ll improve service delivery by holding those in power to account.”
Bobani said he joined the hundreds of thousands of residents who rejoiced around the city on Thursday.
“This government is determined to serve the interests of all residents around. We love and like them and they love and like us. We’ve been saying since the onset‚ as of the 27th of August‚ that there’s nothing wrong that we’ve done.
“Everything was done by the book. There was only one guy that was moving around‚ saying he’s the mayor‚ yet that guy is not even occupying City Hall. There’s only one mayor here‚ one speaker here and one chief whip.
“We’ve known we’ve been legal for some time. Right now they must pay the money of the citizens and we’ll instruct the municipal manager to quickly ensure that we are getting the money of citizens they have wasted.”