Ousting of Bobani ‘gift’ for Trollip
THE final removal of the UDM’s Mongameli Babani as the mayor yesterday is a retirement gift for Athol Trollip and a Christmas present for the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, according to DA leader Nqaba Bhanga.
Bobani was kicked out through a vote of no confidence after occupying the hot seat for only four months.
His ousting came soon after the DA had been voted out at the Joburg Metro and shortly before the sitting of the council in Tshwane Metro for a vote of no confidence against DA mayor Stevens Mokgalapa.
In August, Bobani was elected mayor to replace Trollip, who was also removed through the same motion by the UDM, EFF and ANC. Trollip had for months spearheaded Bobani’s removal bid, which succeeded yesterday.
Deputy mayor Tshonono Buyeye of the AIC would now act in Bobani’s position.
“We have given our residents a Christmas present and we have given Mr Trollip a retirement present to say this monster and this criminal who has destroyed everything is out,” Bhanga told Independent Media a few hours after the successful vote of no confidence.
There had been several attempts to remove Bobani.
On one occasion, a council meeting had to be postponed after councillors had raised concerns about receiving death threats, allegedly directed at them and their family members.
Bhanga said the process of removing Bobani was a difficult journey, which involved day and night meetings. “Ultimately this week we reached a consensus that he must go, and all parties (except the UDM) voted against him,” said Bhanga.
Bobani’s UDM had two seats in the council.
Bhanga described Bobani as the Pablo Escobar of Nelson Mandela Bay, in reference to the Colombian druglord and narcotics terrorist Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria.
He said the outgoing mayor had broken everything that the DA under Trollip had built in the city.
“He has broken our streets, lights, buses, a stadium, city hall, and he turned our city into a gangster state.
“More than 20 people were slain in politically and tender-related assassinations, as he disregarded the law. Therefore we are so excited that at last this man is gone, and we, as the DA, we have done everything in our power to ensure that he is out for good,” he said.
But when asked if the DA had come up with a candidate to replace Bobani, Bhanga said they were waiting for a directive from their leadership.
Declining to react to the allegations Bhanga made against Bobani, UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa said: “Why must I respond when boys are insulting each other?”
He, however, said the UDM was not surprised by the vote since the ANC and DA had signed a joint petition to oust Bobani two months ago.
“Bobani had said his sin was not to help some of the councillors or members of certain parties to get tenders.
“The leadership of the ANC – Ace Magashule and others – went there to say this was not on,” said Holomisa.
Holomisa said he had yesterday told Bobani that if the ousting was done procedurally, the DA should not “even think of challenging it.
“We should just be thankful to the people of Nelson Mandela Bay who co-operated during his time.”