ANC is trying to steal back NMB by any means possible

13 December 2022

The ANC's desperate attempt to steal back power in Nelson Mandela Bay through any means possible has once again reared its ugly head in the latest gazette from COGTA MEC Zolile Williams.

Instead of working with the multi-party coalition, which has been making significant strides in returning service delivery to the people of Nelson Mandela Bay, the MEC has chosen not to be impartial but rather to put his ANC masters ahead of the people.

This farce must be condemned in the harshest possible terms. This has nothing to do with service delivery and everything to do with a dying organisation, desperately trying to cling to power so it can continue to loot state resources.

MEC Williams' intention to proceed with a Section 12 amendment to Nelson Mandela Bay, which would strip the multi-party coalition of their positions and give four seats back to the ANC, would see the keys to the city's finances handed back to his corrupt cadres!

It is telling that the MEC has failed even to acknowledge that the Section 12 amendment was shot down by the NMB Council as early as August this year. He has also failed to acknowledge that Mayor Retief Odendaal declared an intergovernmental dispute regarding his intentions in September.

Williams has clearly forgotten that he is not a law unto himself. There are laws and procedures that must be adhered to. He cannot declare whatever he wants without following due process.

The MEC is bound by the constitutional requirement that every organ of state involved in an intergovernmental dispute must make every reasonable effort to settle the dispute. No such effort has been made on his part.

The ANC has shown the people of Nelson Mandela Bay time and time again that they only care for themselves. They have looted state resources with impunity. Under their leadership, service delivery has collapsed along with critical infrastructure.

In just a few short months, with the multi-party coalition at the helm, a remarkable change has occurred in Nelson Mandela Bay. Streetlights are being repaired, potholes have been filled, and street markings are being painted, to name a few.

Citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay have started to take pride in their city again. They have joined hands to fix the mess left by the ANC and get Nelson Mandela Bay working again. The people are realising that they do not need the ANC.

MEC Williams wants to put an end to that. MEC Williams wants the city to fall back into chaos, because chaos makes it easier to plunder. The ANC is deeply threatened by what is happening in NMB, because it is shining a light on their incompetence.

The DA wants to make it clear, we will not allow Nelson Mandela Bay to be stolen without a fight! The DA supports the city’s intention to go to court to fight this blatantly illegal attempt by the ANC to capture city hall.

We will continue to work with our coalition partners and use whatever resources are available to us, to ensure that good governance remains at the helm of the city.

Statement issued by Nqaba Bhanga MPL, DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader, 13 December 2022