Publications
Partners
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor, Retief Odendaal, is heading to court next week after the news that CoGTA MEC, Zolile Williams, has gazetted a proposed change in the governance system of the metro.
This proposed change will see Nelson Mandela Bay moving away from a Mayoral Executive to a Collective Executive system.
Addressing the metro live on social media last night, December 13, Odendaal said that this proposed change, if lawful, will disband the current Executive and force the Council to vote for a new mayor. It will also give the ANC at least four seats within the Executive. The ANC currently holds no position in government in Nelson Mandela Bay.
"The proposal to change the system of governance in a municipality, a year after the local government elections, has never been done before in South Africa. I believe that this is nothing more than an attempted political coup by the ANC to hijack this municipality's government, which they lost through their own poor governance," Odendaal said.
"The notice to invite public comment on the proposed change of the system of governance was first gazetted on August 28, 2022 by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government. Since then, the Department of CoGTA has only had one engagement with the NMB Council. At this meeting, the Council rejected the proposal outright.
"On September 21, 2022, I was elected Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay after a new majority, multiparty government was put together. On September 23, 2022, I lodged an Intergovernmental Relations Dispute with the MEC of CoGTA. I have never received formal correspondence from his office acknowledging this dispute nor any genuine attempt to meet to find an amicable solution.
"As recently as November 29, 2022, I corresponded personally with the personal assistant of the MEC to endeavour to schedule a meeting to discuss the proposal. Two days later, the proposal to change the system of governance was ostensibly signed by the MEC," Odendaal explained.
"I intend to institute legal action against the MEC of CoGTA in an urgent bid to prevent him from collapsing the government and administration in NMB."
Odendaal told Express that he will be going to court as early as next week and if the proposed change does happen and a new mayor is to be chosen, this will only come into effect in the new year.
