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DA settles court case over Mayor with CoGTA MEC

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Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance has put Nelson Mandela Bay residents first, opting not to waste valuable taxpayer money on a long, drawn-out legal battle with the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Xolile Nqatha.

Last year MEC Nqatha challenged the election of the Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, DA councillor Nqaba Bhanga, during a special council meeting held on 4 December 2020.

Today, 19 January 2021, the DA and MEC Nqatha settled the matter out of court, wherein it was agreed that Cllr Bhanga remains on as executive mayor, until such time as council meets to hold fresh elections.

As part of the settlement, which has been made an order of the court, the Speaker, ANC councillor Buyelwa Mafaya, has been instructed that she must call a Special Council Meeting within seven days.

It has been made crystal clear that the only issue to be addressed in this meeting is the election of an executive mayor. The Speaker must ensure the meeting takes place, is completed, and that an executive mayor is elected.

The DA will be attending this meeting in good faith, with the intent of removing any shadow of doubt around the legitimacy of the mayoral appointment.

The past two months, under a coalition of good governance, has seen the fortunes of Nelson Mandela Bay start to turn around.

Since taking office, a concerted effort has been made to stop the rampant spread of Covid-19, and as a result, the City has seen new infection numbers dropping. Over R1,4 billion rand that was withheld from the municipality by National Treasury has been secured.

Key service delivery projects have been kickstarted, addressing the years of neglect under the ANC led coalition of corruption who put themselves ahead of the needs of the people, no matter the cost.

The DA, as part of a multi-party coalition of good governance, will not be deterred from its mission to take Nelson Mandela Bay Forward Again!

Regards

Andrew Whitfield, MP
DA EC Provincial Chairperson

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