AlgoaFM News
The 1st Mayoral address by Nelson Mandela Bay's new mayor was held inside a locked City Hall on Tuesday morning as a protest by some 200 people took place outside on Vuyisile Mini Square.
The protesters, who were singing and dancing peacefully, said they were representing 600 ward committee members who have had their contracts terminated without notice.
They claimed that the contract was supposed to end after five years.
Algoa FM News understands that the doors to City Hall were locked from the inside because of the protest.
Last week, Mphumezi Tsomo of the local business committee said a consultant mediating between the SMME's and the municipality had not been paid for four months - it would appear that this issue has still not been resolved.
Meanwhile, Mayor Eugene Johnson briefed the media on the 10th administration's plans for the Metro for the next five years.
She said the Metro is capable of providing efficient services and that her new administration will prioritise the poor.
Johnson said R21 million would be used towards repairing and installing 2300 energy-efficient street lights across the Metro.
She said dam levels remain critically low and that R363 million for borehole drilling would be prioritised while engagements continue with National Treasury regarding the shortfall in funding the Metro has incurred.
Critical vacancies in various municipal departments would be filled as a matter of urgency.
Mayor Johnson said this new coalition would work because its partners are committed to service delivery with one goal in mind, improving the lives of the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay.
She said the new Mayoral Committee Members had all pledged to work in the interests of the people of the Metro and that each committee member would be signing the pledge of commitment.
More people are outside in front of the City Hall. It is my understanding that the front door was locked this morning for this reason.@AlgoaFMNews pic.twitter.com/si4qWa6wFi
— Athi_Plaatjie (@athi_plaatjie) November 30, 2021
