Nelson Mandela Bay is set to be a buzz of political activity on Wednesday, ahead of an all-important council meeting which has the potential to break up the fragile Democratic Alliance (DA)-led coalition under the leadership of Mayor Athol Trollip.
With all the other opposition parties having indicated that they will support a bid to oust Trollip at the special council sitting on Thursday, it would appear that the future of the DA-led coalition in the city rests with which way the Patriotic Alliance (PA) will vote.
In the run-up to the vote on the motion sponsored by the EFF, the DA will hold a "Save Nelson Mandela Bay" rally at Vuyisile Mini Square at midday on Wednesday, while firebrand EFF leader Julius Malema is expected to address a rally at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton on Wednesday afternoon.
The EFF has vowed to “punish" the DA for refusing to support its motion for land expropriation without compensation in the National Assembly recently.
"We are speaking to the people of Nelson Mandela on the 28 March 2018 about the future of their Municipality. We are accountable to our people, not to whiteness. (sic)" Malema tweeted.
At the last motion of no confidence brought against Trollip, he survived by means of the EFF’s six votes, but the red berets have since made an about-turn and said it would back a credible ANC mayoral candidate such as former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas.
The ANC in the province has since refuted claims that a mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay had been decided upon.
PA leader, Gayton Mckenzie, stated in an open letter on Tuesday, that his party would now back the DA in the no-confidence motion against Trollip.
Mckenzie said EFF Leader Julius Malema and his party were "crudely displaying" racism with threats against white people.
"Trollip didn't become white yesterday. He was born white. Let’s not be fooled by those who were comfortable handing power to the same white Trollip and who are now screaming that he’s too white for their liking and should go," said the PA leader.
"We cannot support a motion of no confidence against a man when the only apparent basis for that motion is that the man in question happens to be white."
The PA leader added: "Let’s be clear: anyone voting against Trollip on Thursday will be engaging in an act of racism, and the PA will not partake in it even if the EFF will try to dress it up as a punishment over differences about land expropriation."
He described Malema as "a fake" claiming that the EFF leader stands for nothing except for what he stands to gain and said the ANC "gifted" Malema with the power of deciding what should be done with the land.
He reminded the ANC that while it prides itself on its values of non-racialism in the face of Malema the ruling party of the country fell silent emboldening him to "stomp on and destroy".
"Your silence comes from your thirst for power in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. You dare not speak up because Malema will turn on you again and allow Trollip to stay. You have been cowed into submission by the dangerous yapping of this demagogue who is taking this country down a dangerous path," said McKenzie.
"At what point will you decide to find your voice, ANC, and say he has stepped over the line? If you are okay with someone saying they will be cutting people’s throats, how will you react when throats actually do get cut?
"Malema and his mad ego might have allowed him to believe he is now leading the ANC. But he doesn’t lead the PA. And he certainly will not be leading Port Elizabeth to come Good Friday if the Patriotic Alliance has anything to do with it."
Mckenzie said Trollip would be going nowhere.
"Make no mistake, I am a proponent of the return of the land without compensation – but not through the vitriol and spit-lined language of racism. This is something I will never agree with," said the PA leader.
- African News Agency (ANA)
