They moved as a seamless unit, wining and dining at Bay eateries as they divvied up mayoral committee positions before they even became available.
From upscale Georgious to the swanky Shisa African Restaurant in the Port Elizabeth harbour, the “Leadership” – as they dubbed themselves – snapped selfies as they celebrated what they believed was the end of mayor Athol Trollip and the DA’s rule in the Bay.
On Friday, opposition councillors took the first step in efforts to form a new metro government, submitting a stack of documents to speaker of council Jonathan Lawack – including a petition requesting a special council sitting on Friday next week.
The documents were motions to remove Trollip, Lawack and chief whip Werner Senekal. Another document was a motion for the council to rescind the decision to dissolve the office of the deputy mayor.
Lawack said he would consider the request.
Meanwhile, a day after leaders of opposition parties – the ANC, EFF, UDM, AIC, United Front and the Patriotic Alliance – shook hands, decided to join forces and attempt to form a new government in the Bay, a number of lists were doing the rounds on social media.
The name that came up most frequently for the man with his hand up for the mayor’s position was the UDM’s Mongameli Bobani.
Another list had the PA’s Marlon Daniels as a contender for the job.
These were, according to insiders, among the discussions held on Thursday night at Georgious.
According to insiders, upon concluding a meeting with national party bosses at the Summerstrand Hotel on Thursday, the councillors made their way to Georgious in Kragga Kamma Road for sundowners.
At this gathering, which went on well into the night, the councillors reportedly divvied up mayoral committee positions among themselves.
The councillors have until Sunday to submit proposals for their preferred portfolios to their national bosses, who would make the final call on Monday, in Johannesburg.
On Friday, councillors Bobani (UDM), Andile Lungisa (ANC) Thsonono Buyeye (AIC) and Zilindile Vena (EFF) were seen gathering first at a committee meeting, then moving on to a municipal office where they snapped a few lighthearted pictures, with their day culminating with a lunch at Shisa.
Bobani said the so-called black caucus was a united brotherhood.
“Trollip’s days are numbered, this force is an unstoppable tsunami. We are reunited in removing him,” Bobani said.
Daniels referred questions to party president Gayton Mckenzie, but denied that the anticipated change of government in the metro was about positions.
A confident Vena, the EFF party caucus leader in the Bay council, said: “What I can say is that Trollip is going, no AIC will save him now.
AIC councillor Thsonono Buyeye and UF councillor Mkhuseli Mtsila declined to comment.