The good, the bad and the ugly

THE past five years has seen Nelson Mandela Bay politicians come and go, changes in the administration and shifts in the balance of forces. The Herald’s Rochelle de Kock and Avuyile Mngxitama-Diko take a look at the highs and lows in this period

1. Mayors from Wayile to Jordaan

ON May 31 2011, minutes after he was elected mayor at the first council meeting after the local government elections, Zanoxolo Wayile called for unity and inter-party cooperation.

Less than two years later, he was fired by ANC president Jacob Zuma following months of tensions between him, his deputy at the time, Nancy Sihlwayi, and the ANC regional bosses.

He was replaced for two years by 81-year-old Benson Fihla, but it became clear his deputy, Chippa Ngcolomba, and the ANC regional executive committee (REC) actually ran the show.

After the relationship between Ngcolomba and some in the REC soured, Zuma intervened again, disbanding the REC and replacing Fihla with SA Football Association boss Danny Jordaan, who, over 14 months, has made impressive strides towards stabilising the metro’s administration and regaining investor confidence.

2. Bay’s municipal boss merry-go-round

FIVE municipal managers have shuffled in and out of City Hall over the past five years, creating instability in the administration of the municipality.

As the new term for councillors kicked in on May 19 2011, the municipality was headed by acting municipal manager Elias Ntoba.

Five months later, he was fired by then mayor Zanoxolo Wayile and replaced by Bhisho official Themba Hani. He was sent packing by the council 13 months later because of poor performance.

Then came former director-general in the national Department of Provincial and Local Government, Dr Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela, who quit after five months, citing undue political interference.

She was replaced by Bhisho official Mpilo Mbambisa. He was eventually appointed as permanent city manager, but was given the boot and received a R1-million settlement payout.

It is unclear how long Johann Mettler will stay at the helm before a permanent head is sought.

3. ANC loses grip on two strongholds

THE ANC was given a hammering in two of its traditional strongholds – Ward 42 and Ward 30 – after losing out to independent councillor Andile Gqabi and the UDM’s Mandla Faltein, respectively, in by-elections in 2014 and last year.

Gqabi won his ward, which comprises a section of KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage, in 2014 after he was booted out of the ANC just months before.

The UDM’s win, which came as a major surprise, saw the party jump from 1.26% in 2011 to 49% in the by-election. The ANC blamed the loss on arrogance. It was not all doom in by-elections for the ANC in the past five years, as it grabbed Ward 40 from the DA, albeit with just 79 votes, in 2014.

The ANC also retained control of Ward 46 in Uitenhage and Ward 56 in Motherwell, while the DA kept hold of Ward 1 (Summerstrand, Mount Pleasant), Ward 5 (Central and North End) and Ward 10 (Gelvandale).

4. Steady flow of officials shown door

OVER the past five years a number of councillors have left the council chamber, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

Among those sent packing were the ANC’s former mayors Zanoxolo Wayile and Ben Fihla, as well as their respective deputies Nancy Sihlwayi and Chippa Ngcolomba. All, except Fihla, were redeployed to either the Eastern Cape legislature or parliament.

ANC councillor Thembinkosi Mafana was given the boot last year after a photograph emerged of him signing an unauthorised letter of intent with the city of Fuzhou while on a visit to China in 2013.

The DA fired its former Ward 1 councillor Stanford Slabbert for distributing a racist e-mail, while it later instituted disciplinary proceedings against former councillors Knight Mali, Mzukisi Ncamani and Bahle Ngqondela, who joined the ANC.

Among the DA staffers who resigned prior to the recent political squabbles were former caucus leader Leon de Villiers and Jeremy Davis.

5. Nine councillors died since 2011

THE Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has lost nine councillors, who died, since the last local government elections in 2011.

Some died barely a year after they were elected into the council. Some died due to illnesses, one was murdered and others died in a vehicle accident when the driver swerved for a cow.

Just two months after the new council term, DA councillor Terry Herbst died following a heart attack. He was 80.

In January 2012, three ANC councillors – Noncedo Ngqondi, Mxolisi Gumenge and Phumeza Lose – died in the motor vehicle accident.

ANC councillor Linda Kwitsana died after a long illness in December 2013, Buyisile Mkavu was shot dead in his car two years ago, and an ill Nomamfene Quluba died in November.

Former ANC councillor Mike Tofile died last year and COPE’s Monde Mtanga in January.