Nqaba Bhanga Nelson Mandela Bay mayor

Photo via Twitter: @DA_ECapePD

Nqaba Bhanga’s election as Nelson Mandela Bay mayor deemed unlawful

Eastern Cape Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha said the election of Nqaba Bhanga as Nelson Mandela Bay mayor was null and void.

Nqaba Bhanga Nelson Mandela Bay mayor

Photo via Twitter: @DA_ECapePD

Nqaba Bhanga, who was elected Nelson Mandela Bay mayor less than one week ago, has been given a “not so fast”. He was elected Mayor on Friday 4 December just days after the metro was declared a COVID-19 hotspot by President Cyril Ramaphosa. His ‘reign,’ however, has appeared to be short-lived. 

On Tuesday 8 December Cogta MEC in the Eastern Cape Xolile Nqatha released a letter dubbing Friday’s election “unlawful” and “null and void”. 

ELECTION DECLARED UNLAWFUL 

In a letter addressed to Nelson Mandela Bay speaker Buyelwa Mafaya, Nqatha said the department had received a report from the Acting City Manager about the proceedings of 4 December 2020. 

“According to the report, it clearly shows that the election of the Acting Speaker by Councillors to preside over the elections of an Executive Mayor was done in contravention of terms of section 36(3) of Local Government: Municipal structures Act, 1998,” said Nqatha. 

“Neither the Acting City Manager nor a person designated by the MEC presided over the election of the Acting Speaker on 4 December 2020. The election of the Acting Speaker was therefore wrongful, unlawful and null and void. All his actions on that day were null and void, that includes presiding over the election of the Executive Mayor [Bhanga],” he added. 

‘YOUR MUNICIPALITY DOES NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE MAYOR’ 

Nqatha went on to say that a special council should be convened in order to comply with the court order urgently. 

“Your municipality does not have an executive mayor [Bhanga] as the process leading to this appointment was tainted with flaws and not compliant with legislation. 

Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry Dean Macpherson responded to the statement saying; “which court has declared this ‘unlawful’ because only a court of law can do so? Has any journalist asked the MEC this question?”

BHANGA VOWS TO TACKLE COVID-19 IN THE METRO

Speaking to eNCA, Bhanga said the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is facing two problems, namely; lawlessness and the spread of misinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Bhanga said the issues are as a result of the “absence of leadership” in the metro, which therefore led to Nelson Mandela Bay being declared a COVID-19 hotspot. 

“We are going to […] put a lot of enforcement to make sure of law and order. We will also put a campaign about educating our people about COVID-19,” he said.