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Reject Bhanga addresses the media.
Lulama Zenzile, Gallo Images, Netwerk24
- Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha has rejected Nqaba Bhanga’s election of the district attorney as mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Bhanga was elected during a chaotic council session last week.
- The MEC has called for the council to reconvene to elect a mayor.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Eastern Cape Affairs MEC Xolile Nqatha has rejected the election of Nqaba Bhanga as the new mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay.
In a letter to Nelson Mandela Bay President Buyelwa Mafaya dated Dec. 8, Nqatha said the department received a report from the acting city manager, Anele Qaba, about the council session on Friday that led to the Bhanga’s choice.
According to the report, it clearly shows that the election of the acting president by the councilors to preside over the election of an executive mayor was made in contravention of [the] terms of section 36 (3) of [the] Local Government: Municipal Structures Law of 1998. Neither the interim municipal administrator nor a person designated by the MEC presided over the election of the interim president on December 4. The election of the acting president was, therefore, illegal, illegal and null, “he said.
News24 previously reported that Bhanga, the leader of the Eastern Cape DA, was elected the new mayor during a chaotic council meeting on Friday.
His election followed a marathon council meeting at Port Elizabeth City Hall, which began at 11:00 and featured numerous postponements and much drama. Hanga was the only nominee and he was elected mayor around 9:20 p.m.
The news was greeted with cheers and applause.
READ | District Attorney Nqaba Bhanga is the new Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay
That same afternoon, a group of men apparently stormed the chamber and forcibly removed President Mafaya from her chair before the scheduled date for the vote. Nelson Mandela Bay Township spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki told News24 that the hybrid meeting was called off after a group of men walked into the hallway causing a commotion. “… the security guards had to come in and try to solve the problem,” Mniki said. Mafaya later logged back into the virtual meeting and sounded shocked and excited.
“I’m injured at St George’s Hospital,” Mafaya said while panting. “I’m going to open a case after this. [at Mount Road police station],” she said.
Mafaya was replaced by the advisor of the Patriotic Alliance, Marlon Daniels, who presided over the election of Bhanga.
Nqatha said that all actions taken by Daniels were “null and void.”
“Therefore, you are requested to call a special council meeting to urgently comply with the court order, as your municipality does not have an executive mayor, as the process that led to his appointment was tainted with flaws and not he complied with the legislation, “Nqatha instructed Mafaya. .
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In a statement, the ANC’s regional task force condemned the events at the council session, saying they were characterized by serious crime and an incident of gender-based violence.
The ANC said the use of tear gas and violent physical harassment, as well as threats against Qaba and his family, should be harshly condemned.
Regional task force coordinator Luyolo Nqakula said the ANC has called for the council to reconvene to re-elect a mayor.
“We also wish to reject the alleged election of Bhanga as mayor. The decorum of the council was undermined and compromised and resulted in the abortion of the meeting legally, procedurally and in accordance with the council’s rules of order (sic). Desperation of the council The fact that DA and his allies declare Bhanga as executive mayor under the presumed acting president Daniels is not only flawed and illegal, as it is not in line with Law 117 of municipal structures of 1998 (36) (3) .
“However, we understand the DA’s thirst to test power and hold on to it even if it means that it will employ scrupulous means (sic) to gain access to resources and reverse the achievements of our movement,” Nqakula said.
The district attorney’s reaction in Nelson Mandela Bay will add to the story once received.
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