Nelson Mandela Bay Executive mayor, Athol Trollip, on Thursday, survived a motion of no confidence at an acrimonious final Council meeting of the year.
Sixty-five councillors, including the EFF, voted against the motion of no confidence in Trollip, sponsored by lone Patriotic Alliance councillor, Marlon Daniels.
Daniels broadly claimed in his notice of motion that Trollip had "disrespected and misled" the Municipality on matters related to a senior appointment that he said had resulted in a lawsuit.
During debate on the motion Daniels said his motion was not about a hunger for power but he said that councillors in the DA know "what it's like under Trollip".
Speaking to the media after the vote, Trollip said that they weathered a difficult storm.
"We are now going to put our stamp on this Council. There are a couple of opportunistic people in the city who want the status quo to remain, where they want to continue looting in the city as per the book by Chippy Olver (How To Steal A City)," said Trollip.
"I put my foot down when I arrive here as the mayor and my foot is not going to go up. So, I'm pleased that we were able to weather this storm and I look forward to the next four years," he said.
EFF provincial coordinator Yazini Tetyana says they had to support the DA on Thursday as they "could not allow the ANC to take advantage of the metro."
The UDM's Mongameli Bobani, who seconded Daniels' motion said that it was not the end of the road, adding that they will table another motion when Council resumes next year.
