Readers express their views on EFF attempt to remove Trollip as NMB’s mayor

TALK of the Town asked its Facebook readers their thoughts about the impact of the EFF’s effort to remove Athol Trollip as Nelson Mandela Bay mayor.

People were of different views, with several pointing to a racial motivation.

Garth Roux stated it plainly: “[Julius] Malema himself said, ‘because he is white’.”

Clifford Mackenzie claimed that ANC officials prioritise themselves over voters, whereas the DA, under the leadership of Trollip, had been governing well.

“If the ANC get back in they will carry on enriching themselves instead of their voters. Athol Trollip has been working wonders in our city.

‘This will all be lost if these power-hungry politicians with no clue of good governance get back in,” he said.

Thabisile Mgwali’s question implied that he is not of the view that Trollip is doing wonders for the city. “Working wonders where?” he asked.

He said the reason the EFF wanted to remove Trollip as NMB mayor was because Malema wants Trollip to be firm on the land expropriation matter.

“Because he is not – the EFF is therefore not confident in him” he said.

Mackenzie responded: “Trollip is firm, the DA is not against expropriation of land, but it is against expropriation without compensation and so is the rest of the civilised world. It's an offence to just take land. How would you feel if someone walked onto your property [whether you own it or not] and told you to get out because they want it?”

Mgwali’s retort was: “There is nothing civilised about how land was obtained in South Africa.”

Norman Josephy said if Trollip was removed there would be “regression to non-existent levels of delivery”.

Beverly Young said: “Ethnicity aside, Malema is a sociopathic-narcissist – with one aim and that is to create havoc. There is nothing remotely admirable about him, and when his sycophants wake up one day, they will be yet homeless and starving. He has focused his spittle at NMB as it has a white mayor and has proved that there can be well run cities. If 'colour' was the only criteria, and a person of colour arrived on the scene, able to continue the amazing results Trollip has achieved – we would all cheer.”

Fraser Chambers said: “I disagree somewhat in the Malema issue . . . I think he is rather smart. He is shouting from the roof tops and making a noise over a touchy subject that has been around since the ’90s, I think he is doing it to gain more support.

“However, has anyone noticed that he is acting the same way he did when a member of the ANC? I think the rumours that were going about a few years back about his dismissal from the ANC are a front, are true.”