The DA-led government and its allies in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality have vowed to fight what they call “the ANC’s desperate attempts to steal back power”.
A proposal by the province’s Cogta MEC, Zolile Williams, to amend the Municipal Structures Act would force parties to govern together – whether or not they are part of a ruling coalition.
The ANC and DA, along with the EFF and the Northern Alliance, would each receive one seat in a 10-person committee working under the collective executive.
In a live Facebook video on Tuesday night, NMBM Mayor Retief Odendaal criticised the decision by Williams to amend the municipality’s section 12 notice of the Municipal Structures Act.
Coalition partners in the DA-led government have maintained the stance that should the time come and the amendment be passed, they will approach the courts.
The partners include the Freedom Front Plus, ACDP, African Independent Congress, Abantu Integrity Movement, Northern Alliance, PAC and UDM.
Council speaker and Northern Alliance member Gary van Niekerk said they had been expecting this and have always been prepared to fight.
“Every member of the coalition is in solidarity because we feel we have a lot to contribute to the city and we’ll continue fighting the section 12 notice,” Van Niekerk said.
Odendaal said the decision by Cogta’s Williams was significantly flawed.
“It is the belief of the multiparty government that the MEC was significantly flawed in his administrative processes to implement this proposed change,” he said – “”and that he was possibly wilfully negligent for political expediency in this regard.”
Odendaal said the department has had only one engagement with the council. He had previously lodged an intergovernmental Relations Dispute with the MEC.
“I have never received formal correspondence from his office acknowledging this dispute nor seen any genuine attempt to meet to find an amicable solution,” he said.
However, Williams has warned that his department would defend any court action as the municipality was mired in instability.
ANC councillor Wandisile Jikeka said the new system would allow for collective decision-making and create an environment conducive to a stable government.
“The municipality has been plagued by instability and coalition disagreements which started with the previous term under the DA-led government of Athol Trollip,” he said.
“This has worsened in this term, which brings about the inability to take decisions and provide leadership.”
EFF’s Khanya Mngqisha said they were neither for or against the decision.
“We’ve raised our issues with the mayor and the speaker regarding the instability in the council, particularly the speaker, which has led to this decision. We’ve heard that the DA wants to approach the courts; however we will not be a part of that because the decision lies solely on the province,” he said.
Pictured Above : Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor addressing residents in a Facebook live video
