Newly elected Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Retief Odendaal, has declared a formal intergovernmental dispute concerning plans for a Section 12 amendment to the municipality, as put forward by the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams.

The Section 12 notice was first put forward by MEC Williams’ predecessor, former COGTA MEC Xolile Nqatha, which aimed to introduce a collective executive with a ward participatory system.

At the time MEC Nqatha, who was responding to a request for assistance from former Mayor Eugene Johnson, motivated that the changes were put forward to address issues of political instability and the non-functioning of the mayoral and other committees in Nelson Mandela Bay.

MEC Nqatha’s Section 12 notice was tabled at a special council meeting on 5 August 2022, where the council rejected it.

Subsequently, MEC Williams has again raised the issue of a Section 12 amendment in a media release, wherein he has touted the amendment as the only solution to deal with the political instability in Nelson Mandela Bay.

"MEC Williams has stated that the only solution for Nelson Mandela Bay is to go ahead with the Section 12 amendment. He did so with no apparent heed of the council resolution taken, and despite not having engaged with the municipal leadership over the initial concerns that led to the proposal in the first place,” said Mayor Odendaal. Mayor Odendaal pointed out that the initial concerns the former executive mayor raised, namely the issues surrounding the City Manager, the Northern Alliance members, and the lack of MPAC and council meetings, had all been resolved.

 "The MPAC has held several meetings to review the draft 2020/21 annual report, which has since been adopted by Council. The MPAC Sub-Committee has been established by Council and has already convened to craft a way forward to address the unauthorized, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure (UIFW) matters.”

 "There have been several council meetings in which compliance and budget items have been approved,” said Odendaal.

Mayor Odendaal also noted that a new mayoral committee had been established to address all standing committee items urgently and that his office would track these meetings to ensure they took place.

Mayor Odendaal said now that a formal intergovernmental dispute had been declared, the next step was to have a formal meeting with the MEC’s office to determine the precise issues that are in dispute.

"Our intention is to find an amicable solution and address any concerns the MEC might have.

If we are to get Nelson Mandela Bay working again, we will need the help of all relevant stakeholders, including the provincial government,” said Mayor Odendaal.

Issued by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Communications. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Communications and Media Liaison Officer Mthubanzi Mniki at (041) 5061555/0713813779 or email at mmniki@mandelametro.gov.za