Actually, Lungisa is in China

Metro infrastructure and engineering portfolio head Andile Lungisa had to resort to the courts to get his bail conditions relaxed to join a municipal delegation to China.

The delegation, led by mayor Mongameli Bobani, is in China on an investment drive to help lure new funders for innovative “smart city” projects.

Asked on Monday to confirm if he was part of the delegation to China, Lungisa said: “I am around, I am in the metro.”

When asked why deputy mayor Thsonono Buyeye had said he was in China, Lungisa said: “I have delegated to Buyeye to run things while I am away but I can see that he is not managing.”

But on Thursday, Lungisa admitted he was, in fact, in East Asia, mainly to mend relations with China that he claims were ruined by the DA.

“We are here to revive relations which were killed by the DA-led administration.

“China is the biggest investor in our city.

“The biggest agenda is to revive the relationship that was collapsed by the DA when they asked the question of Taipei instead of China.”

Lungisa was referring to questions raised by former speaker Jonathan Lawack at a December 4 council meeting about a 40-ton donation of rice from Taipei, Taiwan’s capital.

At the time, Lungisa denied the municipality had accepted the donation of rice, claiming that whoever did had done so in their own capacity.

It was later established that Buyeye and mayoral committee member of economic development Queenie Pink had accepted the rice donation.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province.

Lungisa said he denied being in China as he thought The Herald was trying to trick him.

Bobani, along with acting city manager Peter Neilson, Lungisa, and acting senior director of projects Tando Tsepane are in China for three days.

But to get his passport for the trip, Lungisa had to apply to the court.

This was after his conviction and sentencing for assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm for hitting DA councillor Rano Kayser over the head with a water jug during a council brawl in October 2016. Lungisa was sentenced to an effective two years’ imprisonment in April 2018.

Lungisa, who is out on R10,000 bail, has since appealed against his conviction and sentencing. The matter will be heard on March 13 in the Grahamstown High Court.

He had his bail conditions relaxed by magistrate Mornay Cannon on February 15 at the St Albans Magistrate’s Court.

Cannon ordered that the clerk of the court return his passport and that Lungisa no longer had to report to the Kabega Park police station.

Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki declined to reveal details of the trip, including its cost.

“[This] will be reported by the mayor and the acting city manager through formal processes of council on their return,” he said.