The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay is in talks with the national leaders of various political parties in a bid to get the support needed to topple the coalition government, including mayor Mongameli Bobani.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Grand Hotel in Central, DA Eastern Cape leader Nqaba Bhanga said it was trying to ensure its no-confidence motion against Bobani succeeds come December 4.
The party will be in court on Tuesday to try to force the removal of three of its councillors – Victor Manyati, Trevor Louw and Neville Higgins – who were instrumental in helping oust former mayor Athol Trollip and suspending city manager Johann Mettler.
“We know that this coalition is on the brink of collapse and therefore we are going to mobilise residents, political parties and anyone who can support us because we can’t allow the city to be stolen again.
“This will be D-day for us to defend and save the city,” Bhanga said. The party will also table motions of no confidence in speaker Buyelwa Mafaya and chief whip Bicks Ndoni.
The motions are based on an investigation into Bobani by the Hawks as well as allegations of interference in the administration.
“All these allegations prove that Bobani is unfit for office and should be removed as soon as possible,” Bhanga said.
He said the DA had also been concerned by the delays in refuse collection in the townships and northern areas.
“The failure of this municipality to collect refuse is simply unbelievable and unforgivable.
“And it’s because of the mayor who tried to stop the processing of a contract for refuse collection,” Bhanga said.
“We know he has been interfering and his role is disrupting service delivery.”
Bhanga said the DA was worried the auditor-general would flag the metro’s inability to conduct council meetings and portfolio committee meetings as a governance issue.
“We are not working as a city,” he said.
Other matters the DA took issue with included the recent eviction of land invaders and Bobani’s attempt at bringing back suspended officials.
“We know that Bobani is trying to bring back people who are implicated in forensic investigations and as the DA we will do everything in our power to make sure that anyone who reverses this must have a justifiable reason.
“We know that the [acting] municipal managers are refusing to bend to the coalition.
“We are not blinded, we know that he is chopping and changing municipal managers because he wants to bring back his friends.
“We are not intimidated by this cartel,” Bhanga said.
He said the DA’s engagements included speaking to all smaller parties and the ANC.
“We are working very hard in ensuring that we succeed this time around and we are tabling this motion ourselves to make sure that everyone comes on board,” he said.
Patriotic Alliance councillor Marlon Daniels said the DA had made an attempt to bring it on board but the party was wary going forward.
“The Patriotic Alliance is very clear on our stance that we will not allow the DA to manipulate us once again but we are definitely not pleased with the way things are going.”
EFF Nelson Mandela Bay chair Ngawethu Madaka said the DA had not made any contact with it on the motion.
Madaka said: “Any motion of no confidence is not proper.
“We are not convinced by the matter being investigated by the Hawks which allegedly happened years ago.
“Trying to remove who has been in office for only two months doesn’t make sense.
“The DA can go to our national leaders, it is simply not going to happen.”
Attempts to reach AIC councillor Thsonono Buyeye and UF councillor Mkhuseli Mtsila were unsuccessful.
Bobani said the DA’s motion would not be successful as it did not have the numbers to push it through.
“Let the DA bring the motion. It won’t be the first time they bring the motion.
“They supported the ACDP motion at our last meeting and they lost the motion with their huge numbers.
“The DA on August 27 lost everything,” Bobani said.
“They must know that this coalition government is going to be in power for the next three years and we are going to be back after three years because our communities will vote us back into power.
“The DA ran this city into the ground, the DA lied and said they created jobs when they created nothing.
“With regard to the small business owners getting work we are not surprised that the DA takes issue with black people getting work.
“There was absolutely no interference but the DA must just come out and admit that they have a problem with black people getting work.”