By Anita Dangazele
After almost two months of hinting at a change in government in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the ANC has found itself back on top as the deputy mayor moves to the number one position while the mayor shifts to the deputy position.
This change comes after both the ANC’s regional chair Babalwa Lobishe and the executive mayor Gary van Niekerk tendered their resignations on Wednesday morning. Lobishe is now the new mayor, while Van Niekerk is now the new deputy mayor.
This follows an ANC NEC resolution for the party to lead in all hung metros around the country. New NMBM Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said this was a long time coming.
“The ANC took a decision a month ago, and it was communicated to all of us. There was an interview process for the next mayor, and a candidate emerged,” said Lobishe.
“That candidate was me, Babalwa Lobishe. This is what is now unfolding.”
She said her first focus as the executive mayor would be to eliminate irregular expenditure in the city and ensure that vacancies are filled.
“In terms of the disaster, we’re learning lessons that we’re not taking care of the people when it comes to the allocation of sites and the allocation of beneficiaries. I think it’s essential that we achieve this within the first 100 days,” she said.
She said they must make sure people are moved to safer environments and that they are relocated away from exposed places, such as riverbanks.
Meanwhile, her new deputy Gary van Niekerk said he was grateful for the opportunity to have lead the city over the past 17 months.
“Getting here has been a process with the ANC leadership consulting with me every step of the way,” he said.
“I will support the new mayor, and we have already formed a good working relationship. I will support her and make history as the busiest deputy mayor the city has ever seen.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has termed the leadership switch as nothing more than the rearranging of chairs in a sinking ship.
“We are deeply concerned that this is nothing more than the rearranging of chairs in the titanic, where the ship continues to sink. Our councillors and the ANC’s continue to be blamed for the municipality’s disfunction, because simple service delivery tasks cannot be delivered,” said DA Provincial Chair Yusuf Cassim.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the Defenders of the People (DOPE) have joined the ANC-led coalition, giving them 64 seats in the 120-member council.
Lobishe said the new mayoral committee will be announced on Friday after a meeting with the coalition members.
Pictured above: The NMBM Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe after accepting her nomination as the new mayor.
Source: Anita Dangazele
