The three embattled Northern Alliance (NA) councillors have decided to join forces with the multi-party coalition in a bid to take Nelson Mandela Bay from the ANC-led government.
NA President, Gary van Niekerk says the party will sign the coalition agreement either on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.
The NA will be joining the Abantu Integrity Movement(AIM), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Democratic Alliance (DA), African Independent Congress(AIC), Freedom Front Plus, Pan African Congress and United Democratic Movement(UDM).
This announcement follows a failed council meeting on Wednesday where the coalition had set its sights on removing the ANC from power through motions of no-confidence.
The meeting ground to a halt amid another pending court challenge by the Municipality and city manager Dr Noxolo Nqwazi.
The notice of appeal filed on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and City Manager, Noxolo Nqwazi seeks to appeal an interim order by the High Court about the three NA councillors.
The court still needs to decide if Van Niekerk, Stag Mitchel and Bevan Brown are still councillors after the Nqwazi declared their vacancies after receiving a letter from a faction of the Northern Alliance months ago.
Van Niekerk says today is a sad day for the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay.
Adding, that the ratepayers' money was used to lodge this appeal.
"What's happening today is really putting the interests of a certain political party, namely the ANC first and the residents of this Metro last. I can't understand that the city manager is acting surprised that we have been served with papers but she is the second applicant on the papers. The first applicant is the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality which is us but we know nothing of such an appeal," he said.
ACDP councillor, Lance Grootboom, who was due to table the motion of no confidence, says as far as he's aware, an appeal cannot be made against an interim order.
"That order gave them an extension to be able to participate in today's council meeting. They appealed that order but the problem is that this is an interim order, it's not final and in law, you cannot bring an appeal on an order that is not final because there is still a matter that is pending in court against the Northern Alliance and its councillors," he added.
The UDM spokesperson, Yongama Zigebe says these are just one of the delaying tactics the ANC is using to stop the removal of Johnson.
"They should be ashamed of themselves, they fighting political party issues with ratepayers' money that could have gone to service delivery," Zigebe added.
Meanwhile, ANC councillors did not pitch to the meeting.
ANC regional secretary, Luyolo Nqakula, says a council meeting must be properly constituted.
"It had been our contention that there were issues around the constituting of the previous council meeting and we have been advised that there is an ensuing legal action in relation to that. We are not going as the ANC participate irregularities and we are not to legitimise the illegitimate" Nqakula added.
