By Anita Dangazele
Nelson Mandela Bay residents woke on Tuesday to find posters plastered around the city asking, “Where is the mayor?”
But Gary van Niekerk is not missing; he is in his office trying to find the masterminds behind the mysterious posters.
On Tuesday, Van Niekerk said he did not find the posters funny and threatened to prosecute the pranksters.
His spokesperson, Kupido Baron, said: “The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality considers the juvenile posters plastered across town, declaring Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk as missing, in a serious light and will throw the book at the pranksters.”
Meanwhile, Nelson Mandela Bay’s social media users enjoyed mocking the mayor.
Claudia Sauerbaum Clarke said Van Niekerk was hiding in the potholes he had promised to repair in December.
“In a pothole somewhere … those he promised to fix.”
Barbara Minnie said she was surprised the notice of him missing had not been put up earlier.
“He has been missing ever since he became the boss.”
The municipality has issued a warning, saying the perpetrators can face fines of up to R3,000 for failure to follow the correct procedures of its outdoor advertising policy.
Thembinkosi Mafana, Nelson Mandela Bay’s MMC for Human Settlements, said the posters were a childish attempt to stir up controversy.
“It is undesirable as municipal lamp poles are currently used by political parties for electioneering.
“We, therefore, cannot allow the illegal occupation of advertising space, meant for political parties, to be used by pranksters.”
He said the human settlement directorate was investigating the matter.
Pictured above: A poster depicting the Nelson Mandela Bay mayor as missing on a street lamp post.
Image source: Supplied
