Mongameli Bobani’s death a big blow — UDM leader Bantu Holomisa

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa on Wednesday said former Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani’s death was a big blow, not only to the party but also to the municipality.

Bobani, who was admitted to  hospital with Covid-19 three weeks ago and was on a ventilator, died at Life St George’s Hospital at about 6pm on Wednesday, his attorney Danie Gouws confirmed.

Holomisa described Bobani as a “hard worker in the party and the municipality”.

“Whenever there were problems in the municipality even if there were electricity cuts or burst water pipes he would be the first one to arrive and even call ward councillors to attend to that,” he said.

“Bobani was even prepared to use his last cent to make sure that the UDM survives in Port Elizabeth.

“He built the UDM in that region — remember he was a UDM councillor for 17 years,” he said.

Holomisa, who said he had already passed his condolences to Bobani’s  family, said a UDM delegation would visit the family home on Thursday to pay their respects.

“We have lost a good man. It’s a big loss, it’s a big loss.”

Bay acting mayor Thsonono Buyeye said he was shocked and deeply saddened.

He said Bobani still had a lot to offer to the city.

“I have had the honour of serving under his leadership and equally, the opportunity to appoint him mayoral committee member for infrastructure and engineering.

“Sadly, his tenure in this latter role was short-lived. As much as we knew he had contracted Covid-19, and was battling with it, we had always hoped he would make it.

“However, our hopes would not be realised.

“I have learned a lot from councillor Bobani and he had become a very dear friend to me.

“I wish to convey my deepest condolences to his wife and children, his immediate family and close friends, and to the contingent of the UDM.

“May God grant them strength at this difficult hour and comfort them beyond our own understanding,” Buyeye said​.

Eastern Cape DA leader Nqaba Bhanga said they were saddened by Bobani’s death.

“When a person dies, it’s always a sad day. Many of our people in the city are saddened by this sudden death.

“We might have had differences in the past but as a Christian myself, it’s always difficult.

“I want to say to the UDM and the family of Bobani, it was not a man’s will but God’s will.

“God has decided to call Mr Bobani home and we pray for his family and the UDM to become stronger in these difficult times,” he said.

“This shows that Covid-19 is real and we must all take precautions as we navigate though this Covid-19 period. May his soul rest in peace.”

ANC regional task team co-ordinator Luyolo Nqakula extended his condolences to Bobani’s family and the UDM, his political home.

“The city is much poorer with this loss because comrade Bobani always ensured the politics of the metro were vibrant,” Nqakula said.

United Front regional chair Xolisile Peter said they were shocked by Bobani’s death.

“Comrade Bobani played a big role in terms of unifying the black caucus in this metro. He had a real passion to serve black communities.

“We pass our condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” he said, adding that when Bobani was removed as mayor through a motion of no confidence on  December 5 2019, “we were the only organisation that stood with him and said ‘hands off Bobani’”.

Bobani was a  councillor of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality since 2002, for many years as the lone councillor of the UDM.

A livewire, who often initiated debate around thorny topics, Bobani was elected deputy mayor in 2016 when the UDM formed a coalition government with the DA, COPE and ACDP.

But as the relationship soured, Bobani was instrumental in facilitating the removal of then mayor Athol Trollip, whom he succeeded as mayor in August 2018.

But Bobani’s tenure as mayor was short-lived, as he was removed through a no-confidence motion in December 2019.

He was mayoral committee member in charge of infrastructure, engineering and electricity at the time of his death.

Bobani’s death came just hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed SA, expressing his concern about “the situation in the Eastern Cape, which is showing signs of a resurgence [in Covid-19 infections]”, driven by “massive spikes in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro”.

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