PORT ELIZABETH, August (ANA) - The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday terminated the membership of its Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Victor Manyati.
This after Manyati abstained from a vote which saw the removal of Council Speaker Jonathan Lawack.
Municipal Manager Johan Mettler, who presided over the meeting, read out a letter from DA federal executive chairperson James Selfe which ndicated that the party had terminated Manyati’s membership after he publicly stated that he would be leaving the party.
In the letter, Selfe asked Mettler to declare a vacancy.
Earlier on Monday, Manyati said he would not vote with the DA on any other motion, including a motion brought to have Executive Mayor Athol Trollip removed.
“I’ve taken a sober decision not to vote with the DA today. I have personal reasons.
“I need change in this metro, in fact I need change not only in the metro but in the entire country.”
Manyati said that he would be leaving the DA and claimed that black councillors were unhappy within the party.
The motion against the Speaker was brought by the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Mongameli Bobani.
Votes tallied were 59 against and 60 for the motion.
- African News Agency (ANA)
