United Front threatens legal action against NMB acting city manager

The United Front in the Eastern Cape has threatened to take legal action against Nelson Mandela Bay Metro acting city manager Mandla George. The party says George was only supposed to act for six months in the position.

The party, which has one seat in the municipal council, is part of the coalition that elected the current executive mayor Nqaba Bhanga.

Bhanga was first elected during a protracted council meeting in December 2019, where Patriotic Alliance councillor Marlon Daniels presided over the election after Speaker Buyelwa Mafaya was allegedly kidnapped by unknown men during the council meeting.

Nelson Mandela Bay speaker forcibly removed during council meeting:

BREAKING:Nqaba Bhanga’s election as new mayor of Nelson Mandela Metro has been delcared as unlawful,null and void.Below is a correspondence by MEC of Cogta Xolile Nqatha stating this. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/FBETEaEwvE

— Lerato Fekisi (@LThipa) December 8, 2020

The United Front’s Lungile Mxube has also accused George of not having the relevant qualifications to act in the position.

Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Nqaba Bhanga says the United Front’s reasons to remove George are baseless. Bhanga also accused the party of trying to delay the removal of the speaker Buyelwa Mafaya from her seat.

“Mr. George was appointed by the Nelson Mandela Bay Council therefore he qualifies to be appointed. His appointment is legal. People don’t want Mr. George particularly, the United Front. He is doing what is right. He is doing what is expected of him and is respecting the law.”