The Democratic Alliance maintains it is ready to deal with the “consequences” of not reinstating ousted United Democratic Movement deputy mayor of Nelson Mandela metro Mongameli Bobani.
This comes after UDM leader Bantu Holomisa threatened to walk out of the Nelson Mandela Bay coalition if the DA did not reinstate Bobani as deputy mayor.
Bobani was voted out as deputy mayor after a no-confidence vote succeeded against him in council on Thursday.
DA Federal chairman James Selfe yesterday told the Saturday Dispatch they were willing to have a smaller coalition, rather than deal with an unreliable coalition partner.
“We are sorry that Mr Holomisa feels that we should reinstate Bobani.
“We can not continue having a coalition partner that votes with the ANC. We cannot be worried about whether Bobani will vote with us or against us all the time. “We are ready to deal with whatever consequences come with not reinstating Bobani. We cannot have a coalition partner that is implicated in possible fraud,” Selfe said.
Holomisa said it was clear they had no function in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro and would walk out.
“How do we then justify our stay in that coalition?” he asked.
“They went to fetch the Patriotic Alliance without informing the coalition.
“Bobani voted against them after he had questioned decisions that were not procedural,” Holomisa said.
The motion of no-confidence against Bobani put forward by Patriotic Alliance’s councillor Marlon Daniels, was passed after 60 of the 120 Nelson Mandela Bay metro councillors voted in favour of the motion.
The dramatic turn of events saw a number of opposition parties marching out of the chambers.
The EFF viewed the motion as “DA bullying”.
In a statement on Thursday evening, EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi wrote: “Above all, we warn them that their behaviour will affect all other municipalities where they rely on opposition parties in order to govern, in particular in Tshwane and Johannesburg”.
The UDM in the province will tomorrow hold a special provincial executive committee meeting to brief its regions.
DA stands firm on Bobani
This comes after UDM leader Bantu Holomisa threatened to walk out of the Nelson Mandela Bay coalition if the DA did not reinstate Bobani as deputy mayor.
Bobani was voted out as deputy mayor after a no-confidence vote succeeded against him in council on Thursday.
DA Federal chairman James Selfe yesterday told the Saturday Dispatch they were willing to have a smaller coalition, rather than deal with an unreliable coalition partner.
“We are sorry that Mr Holomisa feels that we should reinstate Bobani.
“We can not continue having a coalition partner that votes with the ANC. We cannot be worried about whether Bobani will vote with us or against us all the time. “We are ready to deal with whatever consequences come with not reinstating Bobani. We cannot have a coalition partner that is implicated in possible fraud,” Selfe said.
Holomisa said it was clear they had no function in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro and would walk out.
“How do we then justify our stay in that coalition?” he asked.
“They went to fetch the Patriotic Alliance without informing the coalition.
“Bobani voted against them after he had questioned decisions that were not procedural,” Holomisa said.
The motion of no-confidence against Bobani put forward by Patriotic Alliance’s councillor Marlon Daniels, was passed after 60 of the 120 Nelson Mandela Bay metro councillors voted in favour of the motion.
The dramatic turn of events saw a number of opposition parties marching out of the chambers.
The EFF viewed the motion as “DA bullying”.
In a statement on Thursday evening, EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi wrote: “Above all, we warn them that their behaviour will affect all other municipalities where they rely on opposition parties in order to govern, in particular in Tshwane and Johannesburg”.
The UDM in the province will tomorrow hold a special provincial executive committee meeting to brief its regions.
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