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Former Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Mongameli Bobani died Wednesday night of a Covid-19-related illness.
He had been on a ventilator at St George Hospital for weeks after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Bobani was a councilor since 2002 and for many years he was the only representative of the UDM.
He was elected deputy mayor in 2016 when the UDM formed a coalition government with the DA, COPE, and ACDP.
But as the relationship soured, he was instrumental in facilitating the removal of then-Mayor Athol Trollip. He succeeded Trollip as mayor in August 2018.
However, Bobani’s tenure as mayor was short-lived. He was removed by a vote of no confidence in December 2019.
He was the mayoral committee member in charge of infrastructure, engineering and electricity at the time of his death.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said Bobani’s death was a blow, not only for the party, but also for the entire Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.
“Bobani was a great worker in the party and the municipality,” he said. “He built the UDM in that region, remember that he was a UDM councilor for 17 years,” he said.
Acting Mayor Thsonono Buyeye said Bobani still had a lot to offer the city. “We had always hoped he would make it,” he said. “We have lost a good man. Its a big lost “.
Eastern Cape DA leader Nqaba Bhanga said Bobani’s death proved that Covid-19 is real. “We must all take precautions as we navigate this Covid-19 period.”
The coordinator of the ANC regional task force, Luyolo Nqakula, expressed his condolences to Bobani’s family and to the UDM, his political home. “The city is much poorer with this loss because Comrade Bobani always made sure that the politics of the subway were vibrant,” said Nqakula.
United Front regional president Xolisile Peter said they were shocked by Bobani’s death. “Comrade Bobani played an important role in unifying the black caucus in this subway. He had a true passion for serving black communities. “We convey our condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace, “he said, adding that when Bobani was removed as mayor,” we were the only organization that was with him.
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