Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani has backtracked on his statement that 100% of the city’s budget would be spent in the townships and northern areas.
In a statement, explaining the context of what he said when he was speaking to New Brighton residents on Thursday, Bobani said it was not a policy statement.
“I made an aside statement last week and it was subsequently reported that I had said that the entire budget for the next financial year would be allocated to the townships and northern areas – and should residents in the more affluent areas report a sewerage problem, the head of infrastructure and engineering will be told to ignore it.
“This was not a policy statement and I want to put the comment in context.
“In a campaign against my administration the Democratic Alliance, after it lost the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, has urged suburban residents to stop paying their rates and taxes.
“My comment was merely made to call their bluff,” Bobani said.

He said he was of the view that municipalities exist for the purpose of providing basic services equally to all residents.
“Service delivery should always be improving, and excellent service delivery is my administration’s goal.
“The city needs its ratepayers to be vigilant in paying their dues.
“I assure ratepayers that their money will be used strictly in accordance with the approved budget,” Bobani said.
He urged all ratepayers and residents to unite behind the new coalition government.
Bobani added that they would announce service delivery plans for townships, informal settlements and the suburbs on Friday.
Meanwhile the DA rejected “with utter contempt allegations that the party encouraged residents of Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) to stop paying their rates and taxes”.
“This ludicrous allegation was today made by Mongameli Bobani, illegitimate Executive Mayor of NMB, in an effort to deflect attention from a recent irresponsible statement made by him,” the DA's provincial chairperson, Andrew Whitfield, said in a statement. 
“It was reported that Bobani said the entire municipal budget for the next financial year will be spent in NMB townships and the Northern Areas, whilst the suburbs were to receive nothing.
“He also reportedly said that if affluent areas report sewage problems, he will instruct Andile Lungisa, illegitimate MMC for Infrastructure and Engineering, to ignore the complaint.”
Whitfield said the DA would never allow Bobani to withhold services from certain residents.
“The ANC-led coalition of corruption and its puppet mayor Bobani plan to milk the City dry and feel nothing for the well-being of the people of the Metro,” he said.
“It is important to note that it is the failing ANC that has proudly placed someone like Bobani in a leadership position. He dances to the tune of the failing ANC and has no real power as mayor.”..