New dynamics for budget debate

Defecting DA councillors could controversially boost ANC’s support in vote

THE Nelson Mandela Bay council will today debate, and possibly pass, its 2016-17 budget and development plan for the city. If the R10.8-billion total budget is approved, it could see tariff hikes of 9% for rates and service charges and a 7.6% increase for electricity.

As councillors enter the chamber today for what is expected to be a heated meeting, the power dynamics have changed since they last met seven days ago.

Since Tuesday last week, six DA councillors and one ANC councillor have publicly proclaimed that they had either joined other political parties or planned to contest the August 3 elections as independents.

This reduces the DA’s hold from 47 seats to 41 until it replaces its two proportional representative councillors.

Four of the DA’s six – Isaac Adams, Sarina Marlow, Penny Naidoo and Nico du Plessis – are ward councillors.

The other two, Brian Kivedo and Jan Lindoor, were PR councillors.

ANC Ward 41 councillor Mbongeni Bungane will contest the election as an independent.

While the DA is adamant that none of the six councillors can keep their jobs as councillors, some of the ward councillors said they would remain in the council until the August election as no by-election could be held.

They believe that because the election date was proclaimed and no by-elections can be held, they cannot be replaced.

Should they participate in today’s debate and vote, at least four of their votes are likely to bolster the ANC’s support.

The ANC currently has 63 out of the full council’s 120 seats.

The Electoral Commission’s Eastern Cape spokeswoman, Pearl Ngoza, said last week that PR councillor vacancies could be filled until a day before the elections.