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President Bobani (Lulama Zenzile, Gallo Images, Netwerk24, archive)
- Danie Gouws, the attorney for land former Nelson Mandela Bay Township Mayor Bobani revealed that Bobani was planning to become mayor again.
- Bobani died at 52 at St George Hospital from Covid-19 on Wednesday at 17:50.
- His family said his death from Covid-19 was a shock because Bobani had taken all measures to avoid contracting the virus.
Condolences have been extended to the former Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Township (NMBM) and UDM Councilor Mongameli Bobani.
Bobani, 52, died in hospital from Covid-19 on Wednesday at 5:50 p.m., UDM leader Bantu Holomisa confirmed.
At the time of his death, he was the member of the mayoral committee overseeing the infrastructure and engineering department.
He had been on a ventilator in the hospital for three weeks after contracting Covid-19.
Holomisa first reported the news of Bobani’s death on Twitter Wednesday night.
Bobani’s wife, Nosakhele Bobani, 47, said she was happily married to the politician for 27 years and that they have four children. He then referred News24 to the family spokesman and Bobani’s uncle, Thanduxolo Dzedze.
Dzedze said Bobani had been admitted to St George Hospital on Tuesday, October 20, and has since been on a ventilator.
Dzedze said Bobani began to feel uncomfortable on October 16 after a council meeting and saw a doctor on October 20.
“We are really dismayed that he contracted this virus because he was a very careful person who took all precautionary measures to counteract the spread of the infection,” Dzedze said.
READ | Former Nelson Mandela Bay mayor, President Bobani, dies
Dzedze said Bobani’s home in Magxaki was closed to visitors for six months until the country was placed on lockdown alert level 1 on September 21.
“I remember coming to Port Elizabeth from Johannesburg for a friend’s funeral and drove to his house after the funeral. He stood behind the closed door and said, ‘Dude, let’s talk on video call.’ He was very careful. Whenever he wanted to. they forced him to leave the house, come back, take off his clothes and disinfect himself. The house never ran out of disinfectants, “Dzedze said.
Dzedze said the family was preparing to host NMBM acting mayor Tshonono Buyeye and UDM leaders at the family home Thursday night.
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Bobani was born on July 12, 1968 in Addo de Vumile Bobani and Nomvuyo Gladys Mawa, who are still alive.
In a statement issued by UDM, Holomisa said the party will miss Bobani’s energy.
“We congratulate Councilor Bobani for the good work he did for the people of Nelson Mandela Bay and his tireless efforts to grow UDM in the Eastern Cape. He was always available and ready to roll up our sleeves, and his energy and enthusiasm will be missed,” said Holomisa .
Buyeye said that Bobani will be remembered as a committed and fearless servant of the people who dedicated his life to the betterment of the poor and oppressed.
“His passion for his work continued to be a bright ray of hope within the Mayor’s Committee and the Council as a whole. We pray that his family will receive strength and healing and be comforted by the fact that Cllr Bobani worked and remained committed. with the cause of the poor until their last days on this earth. May his soul rest in peace, “Buyeye said in a statement.
Bobani was elected deputy mayor of the NMBM when his party formed a coalition with the DA, the ACDP and Cope following the local government elections on August 3, 2016.
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However, the fragile coalition soured with then-Eastern Cape Mayor and District Attorney Athol Trollip complaining to the media that Bobani was voting against the coalition government with other parties on all issues raised. on the council.
In August 2018, Bobani was elected mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay after siding with opposition parties and rejecting Trollip via a vote of no confidence.
On December 5, 2019, Bobani was removed from the position of mayor by a vote of no confidence.
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Danie Gouws, his close friend and lawyer, told News24 that Bobani died at a time when he planned to be elected mayor again. “He was working very hard for that position and there were already plans for him to be mayor again,” Gouws said.
“The wife called me last night saying that the doctors had just informed her of the death. This is really a great loss for us and the subway. She was a hardworking person who would respond to a problem even at 03:00 in the afternoon. tomorrow. Even when residents raise issues, he would come out to address them. “
Gouws, who said he had known Bobani for five years, said he met with him three or four times a week to discuss his legal matters.
Gouws said Bobani built the UDM in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro in what it is today.
Holomisa said that arrangements for Bobani’s funeral will be made in due course.
