Mayor’s ousting a gift, says DA
Relief over removal of UDM’s Bobani, ‘who turned Nelson Mandela Bay into a gangster state’
THE final removal of the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Mongameli Bobani as mayor yesterday was a retirement gift for Athol Trollip and a Christmas present for the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, said 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 Johannesburg Metro Municipality and 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 DA’s Athol Trollip, who was also removed through a similar motion by the UDM, EFF and ANC. Trollip had for months been spearheading Bobani’s removal, which succeeded yesterday. Deputy mayor Tshonono Buyeye, of the AIC, would now act in the post.
“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 said a few hours after the successful vote of no confidence.
There had been several attempts to remove Bobani. On one of those occasions, a council meeting had to be postponed after councillors had raised concerns about receiving death threats. Bhanga said the process of removing Bobani had involved day and night meetings.
“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 Colombian drug lord and terrorist Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria.
“He has broken our streets, lights, buses, a stadium, city hall and he turned our city into a gangster state,” said Bhanga. “More than 20 people were killed in political and tender-related assassinations, as he was disregarding the law.”
Bhanga said the party was waiting for a directive from its head office about a replacement.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa declined to react to the allegations against Bobani. However, he 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 get businesses or tenders,” he said.
The ANC’s Andile Lungisa did not respond to messages. EFF regional secretary Hector Peter said it supported Bobani’s removal.
“It has been a long time coming because services to our people were not happening due to the arrogance of Cllr Bobani… He has collapsed the systems in our institution,” he said.