MEC to get tough on Bay

EASTERN Cape Local Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane has given the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality three months to shape up or he will dissolve the council and appoint an administrator to run the city.

He would appeal to ANC provincial bosses to be more "authoritative" with the Bay's political leaders to stop undue political interference in its administration, he said.

Although Qoboshiyane pleaded with business and civil society to give his Section 154 support team a chance to make positive strides in dealing with the leadership crisis in the metro over the next three months, the Bay Ratepayers' Association is forging ahead with plans to withhold rates.

The association has collected 3500 signed dispute documents thus far – worth about R40-million in rates – from residents who are threatening to withhold payments if council is not dissolved.