Nelson Mandela Bay councillor DA councillor Victor Manyati turned his back on his party at a council meeting on Monday.
A motion of no confidence against Speaker Jonathan Lawack was tabled which ultimately saw Manyati abstain from the vote.
Lawack was subsequently removed and 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,” he said. "I need a 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.
City Manager Johan Mettler will now preside over the council meeting.
Mettler said he was seeking legal advice on a way forward.
According to council rules Mettler is only able to deal with the election process of a new speaker.
-African News Agency (ANA)
