Nqaba Bhanga
A court mandated Special Coucil Meeting took place today. Held virtually and in 6 venues across the metro the meeting scheduled to start at 10:00 am this morning eventually stuttered to a start just after 1:00 pm.
The two candidates were Nqaba Bhanga representing the DA and Coalition Partners COPE and ACDP – with 59 votes and the EFF’s Amandlangawethu Madaka backed by the ANC, PA and Eff – with 56 votes. The remaining 4 votes up for grabs were shared between the UF, UDM and AIC.
Vote for hire Marlon Daniels from the PA was most vocal in trying to delay and frustrate the process.
The challenges to the days proceeding were many – at the point of voting via secret ballot Marlon Daniels challenged Councillors sitting less than a metre apart; “Councillors will show each other how they voted and this is not a secret ballot.”
Speaker Mafaya said that voting booths should have been provided to ensure the secrecy of the ballot.
DA Cllr Duncan Monks said that it’s his legal right to request someone to assist him when voting.
The secret ballot voting eventually started at 15h30 in the Joint Operations Centre. The PA’s Marlon Daniels seemed to be very interested in transporting the vote from venue to venue eventually being asked by the Speaker to rather let the Secretariat report on the movement of ballot boxes to the various venues.
At 17h17 the voting was completed and counting started at the City Hall with one observer per party.
At 17h25 the Speaker announced that the results would be made known at 17:40.
The session resumed at 17h51 with Speaker Mafaya saying; “We did all according to the court order. As such, now I’ll be confirming the results per the secret ballot.” In addition Mafaya reiterated that the elections were free and fair. Which was confirmed by the secretariat confirming that due process was followed.
With 62 votes, Nqaba Bhanga was re-elected mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay.
At 17h51 Speaker Mafaya said that Bhanga is now, legally, the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay.
Some comments from the Twitterati:
Anda – @Anda_Nqonji:
Coucillor Bhanga = 62 VOTES
Councillor Madaka = 57
Spoilt ballot = 1
#sabcnews #nmbcouncil
Siyabulela kona – @Siyakona_nciban: Hope that no fights will breakout and no glasses on the tables.. #NMBCouncil
Glenda Perumal – @pumpkinangel09: Never a dull moment in Nelson Mandela Bay. We making our own series ready for Netflix #NMBCouncil
Simphiwe Dulwana – @Cmpra_Dee: I think wevrray need our series in @NMandelaBaymuni
daaaaamn there’s been so much drama drama in Municipality… Netflix here we come #NMBCouncil
marianne – @ownyourimage: Really! Can we have serious leaders for once? 1 agenda item!!! #NMBCouncil
Nwabisa Makunga – @nwabisa_mak: Yaz I’m actually convinced that these ones in this #NMBCouncil aren’t even invested in the idea of power anymore. They know it’s temporary. Their lives are now wholly defined by how to up the level of chaos from 1 sitting to the next.
Bongani Baloyi – @BonganiBaloyiEM: Nelson Mandela Bay is busy electing its 5th Mayor in 5 years, thixo wase bhayi. You are lucky if you do more that a year there yooooooo #NMBCouncil
Nomazima Nkosi – @Zima_B_Nkosi: Overheard: “And what will happen to the spoilt ballots?” Maybe I’m expecting too much but these are Cllrs, educated people, leaders of this Metro. I’m not expecting a single spoilt ballot today. But ke alas. The question’s been asked.
JC MacFarlane – @Macfarlane123: We are heading for the 2021 local Government Elections and #NMBCouncil still deciding who should be their Executive Mayor from the 2016 election.
Alan Straton
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