EFF won’t back Bobani motion
THE DA in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has vowed to forge ahead with its motion of no confidence against mayor Mongameli Bobani tomorrow, despite the sudden withdrawal of the EFF yesterday.
The DA’s determination came after the red berets in the Eastern Cape changed their tune, indicating that they would no longer back the motion.
According to media reports, the province’s EFF leader, Yazini Tetyana, was concerned that if the motion proceeded, there was no certainty that Bobani would not be replaced by a DA candidate.
On Monday, however, EFF regional secretary Hector Peter sang a different tune. He said his party’s caucus had the blessing of the EFF national leadership to help boot out Bobani.
“We are resolute that he must go,” Peter said.
The motion is expected to be debated during a full council meeting tomorrow, before votes are cast.
DA councillor Morne Steyn proposed the motion of no confidence against Bobani.
Yesterday, DA Nelson Mandela Bay Metro leader Athol Trollip appeared unsurprised by the EFF’s latest move, saying “they are the ultimate flip-floppers”.
He said the EFF had a history of back-tracking.
“They submitted their signature supporting the call for the motion of no confidence against Bobani. The latest decision is no surprise. They do it all the time. We are going to remove Bobani tomorrow. He must go to save the city,” Trollip said.
Last night, Tetyana and Peter were not available to comment on Trollip’s claim that the EFF were the “ultimate flip-floppers”.
Trollip was adamant that the remaining 111 councillors who were backing the motion would ensure Bobani’s removal tomorrow if the matter was put to the vote in council.
“In total, 117 signatures were obtained supporting the motion. Now, with the EFF withdrawing, we are short of six votes. The DA has 57 and we need 61 to remove Bobani,” Trollip said.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Council has 120 councillors.
Bobani stands accused of running the Eastern Cape metro into the ground and taking unilateral decisions without consulting the coalition partners who helped him clinch the executive mayor’s office.
Bobani was elected to the top post last year following a motion of no confidence against then mayor Trollip, which was also backed by the ANC, EFF, UDM, Patriotic Alliance and the Eastern Cape United Front.
Bobani was also not available to comment last night.