The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) leader in the Eastern Cape Nqaba Bhanga has essentially told Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha to either deal with the ...
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) leader in the Eastern Cape Nqaba Bhanga has essentially told Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha to either deal with the fact that he’s the new Nelson Mandela Bay mayor or turn to the courts.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) leader in the Eastern Cape Nqaba Bhanga has no plans of surrendering his mayorship in Nelson Mandela Bay and is unfazed by a letter from the Cooperative Governance (Cogta) MEC Xolile Nqatha declaring his election unlawful.
“If they don’t like that the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay is Nqaba Bhanga, they must just drink it and love it because it’s still going to be here. Nqaba Bhanga is here in the City Hall, Nqaba Bhanga is here running the City,”
BHANGA TELLS NQATHA: ‘TAKE ME TO COURT OVER NELSON MANDELA BAY MAYORSHIP’
Now Bhanga remains defiant and has called on Nqatha to rather approach the courts if he takes issue with his election as Mayor.
“The first thing he can do, if he doesn’t like that, is for him to go to court and ask the court to set aside my election as Nqaba Bhanga as the Executive Mayor. He must not stay there in Bisho, there’s a High Court of Grahamstown, there’s a High Court of Port Elizabeth. He must go there – ask him why he’s not going there because he has no authority over this and he can’t do anything about it,” Bhanga further said.
“If they don’t like that the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay is Nqaba Bhanga, they must just drink it and love it because it’s still going to be here. Nqaba Bhanga is here in the City Hall, Nqaba Bhanga is here running the City,”
During Bhanga’s election, chaos ensued in the council and speaker Buyelwa Mafaya was forcefully removed from chambers. Patriotic Alliance councillor Marlon Daniels was subsequently named acting speaker – which Nqatha said was wrong and formed the basis of his decision.
“Neither the acting city manager nor a person designated by the MEC presided over the election of the acting speaker on the 04th December 2020. The election of the acting speaker was therefore wrongful, unlawful and null and void,” he had said.
“All his actions on that day were null and void, that includes presiding over the election of the executive mayor”
This battle comes as Nelson Mandela Bay is the only place in the country facing strict lockdown restrictions, which were imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa – just a day before Bhanga was elected the mayor. Nelson Mandela Bay had been without a mayor since December, following the ousting of the now late United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Mongameli Bobani.
“Neither the acting city manager nor a person designated by the MEC presided over the election of the acting speaker on the 04th December 2020. The election of the acting speaker was therefore wrongful, unlawful and null and void,” he had said.
“All his actions on that day were null and void, that includes presiding over the election of the executive mayor”
This battle comes as Nelson Mandela Bay is the only place in the country facing strict lockdown restrictions, which were imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa – just a day before Bhanga was elected the mayor. Nelson Mandela Bay had been without a mayor since December, following the ousting of the now late United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Mongameli Bobani.
BHANGA TELLS NQATHA: ‘TAKE ME TO COURT OVER NELSON MANDELA BAY MAYORSHIP’
Now Bhanga remains defiant and has called on Nqatha to rather approach the courts if he takes issue with his election as Mayor.
“The first thing he can do, if he doesn’t like that, is for him to go to court and ask the court to set aside my election as Nqaba Bhanga as the Executive Mayor. He must not stay there in Bisho, there’s a High Court of Grahamstown, there’s a High Court of Port Elizabeth. He must go there – ask him why he’s not going there because he has no authority over this and he can’t do anything about it,” Bhanga further said.
- Advertisement -
Read More At The Online Coronavirus Portal Or Use The 24-Hour Public Hotline:
South Africa: 0800 029 999 or just Send Hie to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp
Think Mzansi is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Think Mzansi. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Think Mzansi. Read More Here.
Think Mzansi Brand as a Durban-based online portal aims to help other South African brands to get off to the best start possible. We support local entrepreneurs and want to empower them to communicate their new business offerings effectively.
- Advertisement -
