Page 4 - Bevan Brown News Today

The three Northern Alliance councillors embroiled in factional politics and courtroom drama have returned to their positions in the Nelson Mandela Bay council.

The high court in Gqeberha has reserved judgment in a matter between the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality and three Northern Alliance councillors, including the party’s president, Gary van Niekerk.

Discussions behind closed doors at the Gqeberha high court on Thursday led to an interim court interdict stopping the IEC and Nelson Mandela Bay municipality from filling Northern Alliance president Gary van Niekerk’s position as the matter was extended to October 27 for arguments.

It is D-Day for Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Eugene Johnson after she lost an 11th hour court bid to stop Wednesday’s council meeting, where she will face a motion of no confidence, from happening.

The highly anticipated Nelson Mandela Bay council meeting that was meant to unseat mayor Eugene Johnson was adjourned as it failed to reach a quorum.

In a short but drama-filled sitting, a special council meeting collapsed on Wednesday as a mystery appeal was filed suspending a court order allowing three councillors of the Northern Alliance to attend the meeting where a motion of no confidence was to be heard against mayor Eugene Johnson.

Though councillors of the Northern Alliance were on Monday granted permission to attend Wednesday’s council meeting, it remains to be seen whether the meeting will go ahead.

Fighting to save her job, Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Eugene Johnson has turned to the courts in the hope of halting a council meeting that seeks to oust her.

The fate of the ANC-led coalition is on a knife-edge in Nelson Mandela Bay after it was finally agreed at another chaotic council meeting on Tuesday that Eugene Johnson’s future as mayor will be decided next week.

The three Northern Alliance councillors involved in bitter battles for control of the party have been granted a court order to attend Tuesday’s council meeting.