The DA is expected to approach the Port Elizabeth High Court on Thursday in a bid to have the Monday council meeting, which elected a new political leadership, declared unlawful.
Party leader Mmusi Maimane said the DA’s national bosses believed the council sitting was invalid, with no effect in law.
“Athol Trollip remains the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, and the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth will consider this matter tomorrow [Thursday] morning,” he said.
“The DA and our partners will come out in numbers to support mayor Trollip because we believe a victory on this matter will be a victory for the people of [the Bay].”
Attorney Lunen Meyer, who will represent the party, said the DA’s legal team was working around the clock preparing the court papers.
The DA also said it would approach its other national coalition partners to review the inclusion of the UDM in its formal coalition agreement.
Maimane said: “It cannot be that the UDM consistently acts in cahoots with corrupt parties and in contravention of the agreement.
“I will be meeting with the leaders of the coalition partners ACDP, COPE, FF+ and IFP soon, and the outcome of this will be communicated in due course.”
Asked for comment, UDM president Bantu Holomisa said the DA “can go jump”, saying this was proof of its “baaskap mentality”.
“If you differ with them, they declare you an enemy and call you all sorts of things. This is what they did to Bobani.
“If they don’t want the UDM, they can go and jump. I have no time for bullies.”
While the DA plans its legal bid, the political staff attached to Trollip were given until Friday to vacate their jobs.
City manager Johann Mettler said he had issued notices to political staff on Tuesday.
“In terms of their contracts, they hold office for as long as the political functionary they are attached to holds office,” he said.
“I have given them a notice that their last day is effectively the 31st of August.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay Ratepayers’ Association – unhappy with the leadership change – has threatened to withhold the payment of rates.
Ratepayers’ association chair Kobus Gerber said the intention was to lodge disputes against the municipality by the end of September.
He said the new political leadership under the UDM, ANC, AIC and United Front would bring back instability in the municipal administration.
“It is time that businesses and ratepayers who are paying their rates, have a voice. We do not want the ANC back.
“How can we trust our money with the people who were previously implicated in corruption?”