Page 2 - Khusta Jack News Today

With scuffles over microphones, points of order raised and security called in, pandemonium broke out on Friday at a council meeting where Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Retief Odendaal was booted out of the top job.

While the court will decide on Friday if a council meeting goes ahead to oust Nelson Mandela Bay’s top political leaders, the Northern Alliance has emerged as the biggest winner in the new coalition negotiations.

Nelson Mandela Bay deputy mayor Khusta Jack lost his court bid on Friday to halt a crucial council meeting that could see him ousted, along with mayor Retief Odendaal and chief whip Bill Harington.

A Nelson Mandela Bay council meeting went into recess on Friday after speaker Gary van Niekerk halted proceeding saying his office was waiting for a copy of a high court judgment that ruled the meeting must proceed.

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Retief Odendaal was voted out on Friday during another chaotic council meeting.

The Nelson Mandela Bay council will hold a special council meeting on Friday, after deputy mayor Khusta Jack lost his court bid on Friday to halt the meeting that could see him ousted, along with mayor Retief Odendaal and chief whip Bill Harington.

Former mayor Eugene Johnson is the new speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay council. Johnson, an ANC councillor, secured 62 of the votes through a secret ballot. She went up against DA councillor Rano Kayser who managed to secure 51 votes. Six of the ballots were spoilt. Earlier, Retief Odendaal was ousted as mayor as 62 councillors voted for his removal.

The election of Van Niekerk comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA) Retief Odendaal was ousted in a motion of no confidence.

ANC regional chair Babalwa Lobishe was elected as Nelson Mandela Bay’s deputy mayor on Friday, hours after being sworn in as a councillor.

Attorneys representing Nelson Mandela Bay deputy mayor Khusta Jack are expected to approach the courts on an urgent basis to try to stop a special council meeting meant to remove the city’s top political leaders on Friday from sitting.