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- Braai concrete posts on Marine Drive were demolished by a bulldozer on Friday to break up large gatherings and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
- On Wednesday, Alianza Patriotic Councilor Marlon Daniels opened a case of malicious damage to municipal property against the mayor, Nqaba Bhanga.
- Daniels said a council meeting was not called for a resolution to destroy the recreational facility, therefore the action was illegal.
A malicious damage to municipal property case has been opened against Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Nqaba Bhanga after the municipality demolished beachfront braai stands on Friday to deter beachgoers and prevent the spread of Covid. -19.
The case was opened at the Humewood police station on Wednesday by Alianza Patriotica Councilor Marlon Daniels.
This was confirmed by the police spokeswoman, Colonel Priscilla Naidu.
Daniels told News24 that he opened the case to show Bhanga and the prosecutor that they are not above the law of the land.
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Bhanga had told New24 on Tuesday that the decision to close the recreational facilities was made in conjunction with the subway coronavirus command council.
Daniels said the decision was not made by the council, not even by the coalition government, but Bhanga unilaterally “destroyed” municipal property.
“I spoke with some of the coalition partners and they confirmed that they were not consulted in the decision to execute what he did over the weekend,” Daniels said.
Demolish
“On top of that, if such a decision is ever needed to demolish municipal property, that decision will be made in the council, where all legislators will gather to discuss local government matters. No council meeting was called. and there was no council resolution that those braai bleachers should be demolished, “Daniels said.
He said that this makes Bhanga’s decision illegal, illicit, and therefore must be brought before the court of law.
Daniels said that Bhanga must be held accountable for wasteful and wasteful expenses because taxpayer money was used to build the facility that had been demolished.
The criminal case is the latest attack against the Bhanga-led Nelson Mandela Bay coalition government.
Daniels also accused the district attorney of trying to drive people of color away from the facility, which is in a predominantly white neighborhood.
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Bhanga had told New24 on Tuesday that the order was to flood the entrance to the park with huge rocks, and that when the driver noticed that the plan was not working, he destroyed the braai supports to use the material to block the entrance.
Defended
He defended the driver, saying he only demolished the braai bleachers who were already sick, adding that the city planned to renovate the area anyway.
Bhanga said steps must be taken to prevent the possibility of infections.
He said a fence was initially erected to keep people at bay, but that it had been removed.
Bhanga said more than 5,000 people flocked to Hobie Beach over the weekend, without masks or social distancing.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber of Business called the move municipal property vandalism.
The ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay said the DA government had made fun of people on the subway.
Bhanga could not be reached for comment on the criminal case at the time of writing Wednesday. Your comment will be added once received.
