EFF leader Julius Malema told a party rally on Wednesday that they would not vote for Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor, Athol Trollip.
Addressing supporters at Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, Malema said that he did not care if Trollip continued to lead Nelson Mandela as long as he did not get a mandate to do so from the EFF.
The EFF leader said if Trollip won the vote of no confidence, scheduled for Thursday morning, there would be no war as it would be "democracy in action".
Malema called on his supporters to be at the Council chambers in their numbers to support the EFF councillors who will table the motion against Trollip.
The EFF leader had called for a motion of no confidence in Trollip to punish the DA for opposing an EFF motion on land expropriation without compensation.
Malema also told his supporters that he does not hate white people, but that he loved black people more, adding that no white person should leave the country because of him.
He urged his supporters that whatever happened, they remained true to the issue of land expropriation without compensation.
In a week of high political drama in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Patriotic Alliance announced that it would be supporting Trollip, with PA leader Gayton McKenzie saying in an open letter to the ANC that they would not vote against Trollip purely on the basis that he is white.
PA councillor, Marlon Daniels, told the media on Wednesday that he had been offered the position of mayor by minority parties but declined it because he was not a dog that jumped at a bone.
The offer to Daniels was reportedly made after midnight on Tuesday, by councillors from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), African Independent Congress (AIC) and the United Front (UF) who visited Daniels at his home for an urgent meeting.
“Just this week it was the very same party who went public and said throw the PA a bone and they’ll jump at it. Last night they came with a big bone and we never jumped. They walked out there with their tail between their legs,” said Daniels.
Earlier in the day, the DA-led a march to city hall to show their support for Trollip.
DA provincial chairperson, Nqaba Bhanga, said Thursday would be an important day because "we are going to teach Malema a lesson that not in the name of Nelson Mandela shall our people be divided on the basis of the colour of their skin".
The ANC said in earlier statements that it would opt to support a mayoral candidate from one of the smaller opposition parties in the council.
As things stand the opposing groups would be deadlocked on 60 seats each in the 120 seat Council, but Speaker Jonathan Lawack of the DA, is said to have the deciding vote.
(Additional reporting ANA)
