Joseph Chirume
The ANC today wrestled control of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality after gathering 60 votes against the Democratic Alliance that tallied 59 votes.
The ruling party is leading a pact that includes, Defenders of the People, Northern Alliance, African Independent Congress, Good, United Democratic Movement (UDM), Patriotic Alliance, and Pan Africanist Congress.
The council has 120 seats but Councillor Retief Odendaal of the DA abstained from voting, ruling out the possibility of a tie.
Former mayor and DA losing candidate, Nqaba Bhanga said coalition talks with other parties collapsed due to their unrealistic demands.
“They wanted all positions, then the position of the mayor would be that of a ceremonial one without executive powers,” Bhanga told the media on Monday.
“We will keep our guards up and make sure the ANC and its partners are accountable.”
Spokesperson for the UDM in Nelson Mandela Bay, Yongama Zigebe, told Scrolla.Africa that the small parties formed a single bloc from which they could negotiate with the bigger parties.
“We found that those parties with big numbers were bullying smaller parties during negotiations. So, as a bloc we had power,” Zigebe said.
Zigebe rejected Bhanga’s notion that the UDM’s demands were unrealistic, and in return said that the DA did not show respect for the smaller parties.
“The DA did not want to give us the post of Council Speaker yet they wanted us to support them for the position of mayor. The DA showed arrogance during the negotiations,” he said.
In her inaugural speech, newly elected Executive Mayor Eugene Johnson promised to root out corruption and weed out lazy officials.
“I serve in the interest of all residents. As a government, we will be working tirelessly to ensure lights are kept on and ensure that water taps won’t run dry and that our women are safe,” she said.
“Crime is a hindrance to our development. We will make the municipality a safe place to work and live in.”
