Bay speaker Buyelwa Mafaya to know her fate on Tuesday

A vote for the removal and replacement of speaker Buyelwa Mafaya will take place on Tuesday  as the coalition government seeks to cement its control of Nelson Mandela Bay.

The DA, AIC, UF, Cope, ACDP and UDM submitted a petition to Mafaya’s office in January for the meeting.

The meeting will also see the election of a new chief whip, and is scheduled to start at 10am.

ANC chief whip Bicks Ndoni died in January 2020.

He was replaced as ANC chief whip by ANC councillor Ncediso Captain, who died after contracting Covid-19 in November.

The position has been vacant since.

Mayor Nqaba Bhanga, who is a DA councillor,  was due to meet  his coalition partners on Monday night to discuss who will fill the roles. 

However, he remained tight-lipped on who would fill the positions.

“The DA caucus will be told in the morning the names of those that will be put forward,” he said.

Bhanga was re-elected as mayor at a special council meeting on January 28.

ANC regional co-ordinator Luyolo Nqakula was more forthcoming, saying the party supported Mafaya in her position.

“We have confidence in her. She has been able to steer the ship accordingly.

“We don’t have any other names than that of Mafaya.”

For the chief whip position, he said Wandisile Jikeka would be nominated to fill the role, by the ANC.

Jikeka, a former mayoral committee member who did not return after the 2016 municipal elections, replaced former ANC councillor Andile Lungisa.

“Engagements are still taking place and if there is any change that will be informed by those discussions,” Nqakula said.

Mafaya could not be reached for comment.

ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom said the positions would likely be filled by those in the DA.

“We will just have to wait and see,” he said.

COPE councillor Siyasanga Sijadu said she expected more theatrics from the ANC as Mafaya “loved power”.

She won’t let go easily. Imagine having bodyguards, sitting on a throne and then having that snatched away from you?

“She won’t let go easily. Imagine having bodyguards, sitting on a throne and then having that snatched away from you?

“One must just hope she doesn’t get kidnapped this time,” she said.

Mafaya was allegedly kidnapped during a chaotic December council meeting.

EFF regional chair Amandlangawethu Madaka said the party would not nominate anyone.

“We are still unsure if the EFF will attend the meeting. We will be meeting later to decide.”

PA councillor Marlon Daniels said his party would support any candidate other than those in the DA.

“We are resolute that we will not support anybody from the DA or any other party that is not aligned to the black caucus.”

UF regional secretary Xolisile Peter and UDM councillor Luxolo Namette could not be reached for comment.

HeraldLIVE