Pic: Siyabonga Sesant
The Democratic Alliance in Nelson Mandela Bay has confirmed that a motion of no confidence in the metro's latest mayor, Gary van Niekerk, is not on the cards - at least for now.
DA leader in the region, and former mayor, Retief Odendaal, said the party would be seeking a dialogue with all political parties in the municipality.
This, he said during a media briefing on Wednesday, is to find common ground on pertinent issues like the severe lack of service delivery - but most importantly, Odendaal said, to put residents first.
Odendaal said since the DA and its coalition partners were removed from local government on 26 May, outstanding potholes increased to nearly 15,000 and broken streetlights to more than 10,000.
"That is why the DA will now commence with a political dialogue with all parties represented in council, by firstly writing and reaching out to these political parties to find common ground on issues that affect service delivery and stability in our city.
"Secondly, if this does not work, the DA will actively pursue the removal of the current government with the aim of replacing it with another," Odendaal said on Thursday.
Responding to Odendaal's allegations, Van Niekerk described them all as "lies".
Van Niekerk also revealed that on August 28, 2023 he had sent a document to DA leader John Steenhuisen entitled, "The Truth", in which he addresses some of the squabbles with Odendaal as well as the debacle regarding the alleged irregular appointment of Anele Qaba as the CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency.
A few months prior to the MBDA appointment, Qaba had received a R3-million golden handshake from the municipality in order for him to vacate his position as an executive director amid allegations of misconduct.
As a result, and among other issues, National Treasury withheld more than half a billion rand from the municipality until the allegations about Qaba's alleged improper appointment has been addressed.
In his "The Truth" document to Steenhuisen, Van Niekerk says, in part: "After Mr Qaba was appointed the metro received a letter from national treasury [in] mid-June to question the validity of the appointment of the CEO of MBDA.
"This in itself is highly irregular as national treasury never gets involved in these municipal entities unless there is direct prejudice to the municipality.
"Political interference was suspected and Mr Odendaal admitted to sending a letter to national treasury in this regards. I am not sure why he didn't bring his concerns to me or the Chairperson of the MBDA Representatives Committee or even to Council first."
He said Steenhuisen is yet to respond.
