ANC pushes organogram through

OPPOSITION parties tried in vain to have Nelson Mandela Bay city manager Mpilo Mbambisa provide council with what they called a comprehensive report on the metro police force before passing its organogram on Friday.

The organogram makes provision for a metro police chief and three deputies.

The DA, COPE and UDM also wanted the establishment of the force to be put on hold until consultation with unions had been undertaken. But they were outnumbered when the matter was put to the vote.

Opposition parties had 47 votes and the ANC 54, while four ANC councillors abstained from voting.

While councillors were in discussions in Friday's full council meeting, angry traffic officers, who said they had heard the metro police force was on the agenda without their being consulted, threatened to disrupt the meeting, but were locked out. - Mkhululi Ndamase