DA and UDM eyeing mayor position

● With both parties after top spot, any coalition talks between them could hit a snag

The UDM will partner with any party in Nelson Mandela Bay if it is given back the mayoral position.

This is according to UDM regional executive committee member Nomakhaya Ntozini ahead of Thursday’s special council sitting.

On Friday, council speaker Buyelwa Mafaya granted the request, through a petition signed by 62 councillors of the DA, UDM, COPE ACDP, UDM and United Front, calling for a special sitting.

The petition was also signed by councillor Mongameli Bobani, who was ousted as mayor during the December 4 council meeting.

But, there appears be a stalemate in the DA’s coalition talks with the UDM as both parties are adamant they want to hold the position of mayor.

DA Eastern Cape Nqaba Bhanga, who was sworn in as councillor on Monday, is the party’s mayoral candidate in the metro.

In an interview, Ntozini said: “We’re still in talks at this point and forming a coalition with the DA is not something we’ve agreed on.

“A coalition with the DA is not something we’re against.

“We just hope they can work with smaller parties considering what’s happened in the past.

“The UDM is still open to talking to other parties and we’d be willing to go into a coalition with someone who can offer up the office of the executive mayor, as that was what the UDM had occupied before the December 5 council meeting,” Ntozini said.

On the agenda for Thursday’s meeting is a motion by DA councillor Morne Steyn calling for the election of a new mayor. In his motion, Steyn said Rule 9.1 of the council rules of order provided that after the “vacation of the executive mayor, the council must elect the executive mayor”.

Steyn also called for the removal of the chair of the municipal public accounts committee, Pretty Tshanga, and for the appointment of a new chair.

With three items on the agenda, COPE councillor Siyasanga Sijadu wants the removal of the deputy mayor from office and a new one to be elected.

She also wants Mafaya axed and is calling for the removal of the chair of the rules and ethics committee, which is headed by EFF councillor Lukhanyo Mrara.

Speaking on Thursday’s council meeting, Bhanga said residents of the metro could expect a new government.

“It’s a government that puts service delivery first, a government that puts the needs of the people first and one that will work for the people,” Bhanga said.

When questioned on the makeup of this new government, Bhanga would not reveal details and said to wait until

Thursday. Also keeping her cards close to her chest, Sijadu would not reveal the names of the new “political leadership” that would come in should the opposition get their way.

“We’re expecting a change in regime on Thursday.

“We expect to see different faces after these items have been voted on because you have people who’ve been in positions for two years [and things] in that time have only got worse,” Sijadu said.

Asked which parties would form a new coalition government, Sijadu said nothing had been decided as discussions at a national level were ongoing.