Confusion reigned on Monday at the City Hall in Gqeberha where the newly-elected mayor, the Northern Alliance’s Gary van Niekerk was expected to announce his mayoral committee.
The media briefing was expected to start at midday, but municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron told a room filled with journalists that it would start around 12:15 – only to emerge again a short while later to announce that the meeting had been scrapped, saying the media briefing would be called again in 24 hours.
Baron could not provide a substantive reason for the postponement, except to say that all the councillors who were supposed to be there, were not.
He also did not respond to a question if the councillors had been notified of their new roles prior to Monday’s meeting.
Van Niekerk was supposed to introduce his new mayoral committee on Monday after the ousting of the DA’s Retief Odendaal following a motion of confidence on Friday.
He garnered more votes against Odendaal, who had accepted the nomination to stand again.
The parties who voted for Van Niekerk are the ANC, EFF, Patriotic Alliance, Northern Alliance, PAC and AIC.
Those against were the DA, ACDP, AIM, FF Plus, UDM, Defenders of the People (DOP) and the GOOD party.
In his acceptance speech Van Niekerk said he humbly accepted “the important responsibility to take charge of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, an institution named after a global political icon.”
“This internationally recognised brand is now also associated with below average service delivery, political mayhem, finger pointing and instability.”
He said the new government would not be deterred by what he said was a feeble attempt to instigate defiance and dissent.
Meanwhile, Van Niekerk also pledged to work to create stability in the city and to address the challenges associated with load shedding.
“We need to work hard towards the implementation of alternatives to soften the blow of the rolling blackouts. Industry struggles to meet production targets and we are facing a dark winter if Eskom’s latest statements are anything to go by,” he added.
ANC regional chairperson, Babalwa Lobishe, who was sworn in earlier in the day as a councillor, is the Deputy Mayor while ANC councillor, Wandisile Jikeka is the new Chief Whip.
