City manager a ‘scapegoat’

The suspension of Nelson Mandela Bay city manager Johann Mettler is a ploy so the governing coalition partners can continue looting, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the metro said yesterday.

The DA said trumped up charges were brought against Mettler. A resolution to suspend him was made behind closed doors at a lengthy special council meeting on Thursday, pending an independent investigation into allegations of gross misconduct.

Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Mongameli Bobani of the United Democratic Movement has accused Mettler of misappropriating municipal funds.

Coalition allies the UDM, ANC, Patriotic Alliance, United Front, African Independent Congress and Economic Freedom Fighters voted in favour of the suspension, while the DA, Congress of the People and the African Christian Democratic Party voted against it. – ANA