Page 6 - Stag Mitchell News Today

Despite two legal opinions stating the motion of no confidence against Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Retief Odendaal is invalid, speaker Gary van Niekerk is adamant that a special council meeting aimed at ousting the coalition government will go ahead on Monday — unless a court rules otherwise.

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Retief Odendaal is fighting to retain his position, with his lawyer calling on speaker Gary van Niekerk to halt a council meeting scheduled for Monday, but if it goes ahead the motion to remove him should not be tabled.

If the parties gunning to unseat mayor Retief Odendaal are successful, the ANC has revealed in a report that it is not fully in support of the Northern Alliance (NA) taking mayorship.

A desperate bid to cling to power — that was how the ANC described a motion of exigency filed by the DA on Thursday that calls for a review of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s equity policy, which has been widely condemned for years.

Northern Alliance national chair and Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Bevan Brown has openly defied his party’s decision to back an attempt to remove mayor Retief Odendaal.

The first step to try to remove the coalition government that rules Nelson Mandela Bay was made on Wednesday after several parties filed a petition to get rid of the mayor, deputy mayor, speaker and chief whip.

As factional battles widen rifts within the Northern Alliance, the political party has delayed its national elective conference by six months.

Northern Alliance president Gary van Niekerk has fended off another court application to remove him from his party position, along with three other members.

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.