UDM leader Bantu Holomisa wants a secret ballot because ANC members fear being victimised if they vote against the president.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa says the party will interdict the allegedly unlawful ousting of Nelson Mandela Bay deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani.
In a media statement, Holomisa said the party would on Thursday launch a civil application in the high court to interdict and restrain the municipality from implementing the August 24 decision to remove Bobani and to reinstate him.
“The UDM argues that the mechanics of the introduction and acceptance of, and the voting on, and the decision of council to pass a motion of no confidence in the deputy executive mayor was unconstitutional and unlawful from the outset and should be set aside. And, in any event, a majority of council members of the municipality were not present during the vote,” said Holomisa.
After Bobani’s removal the UDM leader threatened to pull out of the Nelson Mandela Bay coalition if he was not reinstated by August 28.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane rejected the UDM’s threat to quit the metro coalition if ousted Bobani was not reinstated.
“If you decide to go through with your ultimatum and collapse the government, then it will fall to you to explain to the voters of Nelson Mandela Bay and the people of South Africa, who have taken such strength and hope from our coalition, why you decided to return the ANC to government and protect the conduct of one man over the interests of the country,” said Maimane.
Holomisa also said Bobani has not yet been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations levelled against him.
“The motion of no confidence is both unreasonable and irrational because there is no factual or legal grounds for the removal of the deputy executive mayor. Councillor Bobani had not been formally accused of any wrongdoing; councillor Bobani had not been granted any opportunity to defend himself, or even to be heard on the alleged accusations of wrongdoing,” said Holomisa