Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe pulls mayoral committee members into line with gag order
In the correspondence sent to all members of the mayoral committee on Monday, Lobishe told them she had taken the decision to ensure there was no contradictory messaging going to the media and public.
'As mayco, we each play a pivotal role in advancing the collective vision and strategic priorities of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.
'In line with this collective leadership, it's important that our communication to the public, media and stakeholders reflects one clear, united and consistent message.
'In my capacity as executive mayor and in accordance with established governance protocols, [I] serve as the chief spokesperson of the municipality,' Lobishe wrote in the letter.
The ANC governs in the coalition with the EFF, DOP, UDM, NA, AIC, PAC and AIM.
Lobishe said as the spokesperson of the city, she was responsible for safeguarding the institutional voice of the council and ensuring that the metro's public communication was accurate, co-ordinated and aligned with their shared agenda.
'To this end, we are implementing a streamlined communication and media management process that will [ensure] all official media engagements, press briefings and public statements issued on behalf of the municipality are centralised through the office of the executive mayor,' she said.
According to Lobishe, the process was intended to ensure message coherence across all mayoral committee portfolios, prevent mixed or contradictory messaging in the public domain and enhance public trust and confidence through clear, co-ordinated leadership communication.
Moving forward, Lobishe said all media briefings and interviews had to be approved and co-ordinated through her office.
She wrote that media statements, including from mayoral committee members, had to be submitted to her office for review and alignment before release and inquiries received directly by MMCs should be redirected to the office of the mayor for a co-ordinated response.
Lobishe said public engagements with a media presence must be communicated in advance to her office to ensure alignment and support.
DOP president Ruphus Mphahlele said as a party with its own mandate, they would not be told what to do.
'That partisan mayor is not well upstairs," Mphahlele said .
'We did not agree on this, let alone being told about it.
'Unfortunately for her, we won't be dictated to on what to do or say.
'As members of the government of local unity we come from different parties which have their own mandates given to its councillors.
'It's not going to happen, we don't take instructions from her," Mphahlele said.
NA president Gary van Niekerk said mayco members were not happy with the decision.
'The general feeling from other members is that the matter should've been discussed in the government of local unity (GLU) first which it wasn't.
'I have called for calm and requested that we discuss this further in the GLU and we are meeting tomorrow morning [Tuesday] for this purpose."
AIC councillor Thsonono Buyeye declined to comment saying the matter was still being discussed internally.
UDM councillor Luxolo Namette said it was strange for Lobishe to take the decision unilaterally without consulting members of the GLU.
'As a party we feel as though the mayor is trying to kill the identity of the individual parties represented in the GLU.
'We are not an extension of the ANC and therefore we should be consulted before such decisions are taken.
'Members have called for a GLU meeting but there's no confirmation yet if it will actually convene," Namette said.
The Herald
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
KZN ANC branch rallies behind Mchunu ahead of commission of inquiry
An ANC ward in Vryheid under the Mzala Nxumalo region in the north of KwaZulu-Natal has rallied behind embattled police minister Senzo Mchunu. Mchunu was placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa after explosive corruption allegations made against him by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. ANC's ward 23 treasurer Lindokuhle Xulu said they fully support Mchunu because he respected all processes including the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations against him. 'Mchunu has shown discipline as a seasoned comrade. We respect him for displaying such ethical behaviour as a leader. We also support him for always being loyal to the ANC values which bind us as comrades to be always disciplined,' said Xulu. The branch presented Mchunu with sheep when he was in the area during an ANC campaign for a by-election held recently. That by-election was won by the IFP. The commission that will probe allegations against Mchunu will be chaired by acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. A source close to Mchunu alleged he was being attacked by comrades who want to disrupt his campaign ahead of the party's national elective conference in 2027. Some party insiders said Mchunu wants to be the next ANC president. TimesLIVE

The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
Metro offers debt lifeline for accounts in arrears
Cash-strapped businesses and residents in Nelson Mandela Bay who are drowning in municipal debt have just been thrown a lifeline — a new amnesty deal that could see half their overdue bill wiped out if they settle the balance within a year. The municipality has launched a programme to write off 50% of debts on all residential and business accounts that are in arrears, offering much-needed breathing room. The application for the revenue enhancement programme opened on July 1 and will close on September 30. Debt within the last 24 months will be considered and they must pay 2.5% of their remaining balance upfront. The rest must be cleared within 12 months, in monthly instalments. Those unable to meet the payment terms within the stipulated period would no longer qualify for the amnesty, and their accounts would instead be handled through the municipality's standard credit control procedures. It is open to residential, business and registered NPOs accounts. Budget and treasury political head Khanya Ngqisha said this was not a handout, but a one-off deal designed to help residents recover. Council approved the programme in June. It does not extend to government entities, municipal employees and councillors. As of June, the government owed the metro R23.5m while metro departments owed R1m. He said some residents owed about R1 million — a situation that should never have been allowed. 'This is a lifeline, and those people must thank us because this was a political decision deliberately taken to benefit residents. 'The programme also brings relief to hundreds of small businesses, particularly in township and peri-urban areas, who form the backbone of the local economy but have been crippled by municipal debt. 'This programme is more than just a financial intervention. 'It is an opportunity to rebuild trust between the municipality and its people,' he said. The metro has set a target of reaching an 80% collection rate. In June, the rate was 72.6%, up from 69.9% in February. Debtor management and suspension of services manager Joel Swartz said the lower-value property segment was hardest hit. 'There is a slight increase in performance. However, the rate at which the debt book is increasing vs the rate at which we can increase our revenue flow is where our problem is,' he said. He said revenue collection in the municipality faced several challenges. This included a decrease in the number of ATTP re-registrations and access to municipal meters. 'Access to our meters remains a problem, as well as non-responsive customers. 'Many residents are tampering with electricity, and that has directly had an impact on the financial sustainability of the institution. 'The rapid debt increase of the debt book was also due to the punitive water tariffs, an unintended consequence of the drought period we were in, and that led to lingering debt in our books, which we have seen in unaffordable,' said Swartz. For the 2024/2025 financial year, the council opted to remove the punitive Part C water tariff after the relaxation of the drought regulations. To apply, households must submit a copy of their ID, a payslip, and three months' bank statements. Business account holders must provide a letter of authority, the ID of the authorised person handling the financial arrangement, a one-month bank statement, and their latest audited financial statements. 'It is a requirement of our credit control credit policy for specific financial information to be provided by a customer that concludes an arrangement." The Herald

IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Zikalala defends ANC against US Bill: No evidence of wrongdoing, only justice for Palestine
The US moves to sanction some ANC and government too officials. Image: AFP ANC Veterans League President, Dr Snuki Zikalala, has strongly condemned a proposed US bill seeking to review bilateral ties with South Africa and impose sanctions on top ANC and government leaders, calling the move 'baseless'. The bill, approved earlier this week by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, cited South Africa's alignment with Russia and China, as well as its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as key reasons for reassessing Washington's relationship with Pretoria. Committee Chairperson Brian Mast also pointed to South Africa's direct engagement with Hamas leaders as indicative of a growing rift between the two nations. The proposed legislation has sparked outrage within ANC circles and drawn criticism from some US lawmakers. Zikalala dismissed the bill as an unwarranted attack on South Africa's principled support for the Palestinian cause. 'Those sanctions have no basis at all, especially on ANC leaders,' Zikalala said. 'None of our leaders have been found wanting by the international community. The only reason we are being targeted is because we have stood firmly in support of the Palestinian people and taken Israel to the ICJ to answer for what we believe is genocide.' Zikalala emphasised that South Africa's actions were consistent with its values and international law, and were not aimed at undermining its relationship with the US. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'We believe in engagement. We think Pretoria and Washington can and must find each other. It's not in the interest of the American or South African people to escalate tensions,' he added. The US had taken a similar approach with Zimbabwe in the past, imposing sanctions that ultimately hurt ordinary citizens rather than the leadership. Zikalala also defended the ANC's internal accountability mechanisms, arguing that allegations of corruption within the party were being dealt with according to due process. 'We have made it clear: if anyone in the ANC is criminally charged, they must step down immediately. But our leadership has not been found guilty of wrongdoing internationally,' he said. The proposed sanctions bill has also caused divisions within the US Congress. Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks criticised the move, accusing Republicans of hypocrisy and undermining diplomatic norms. Despite the approval by the House committee, Zikalala expressed skepticism that the bill would ultimately pass into law. 'We don't think those sanctions will go through. This is not about wrongdoing – it's about standing up for human rights. We are not going to change our position. We say no to genocide, and we will continue to support the Palestinian cause,' he said. The bill's progression comes amid escalating global criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and mounting legal challenges in international courts. South Africa's ICJ case against Israel, accusing it of genocide, has positioned the country as a leading voice in the Global South on issues of international justice and human rights. Meanwhile, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri asserted that the sanctions stemmed from what she characterised as propaganda campaigns orchestrated by right-wing extremist organisations, between the two countries. President Cyril Ramaphosa has also called on the Democrats to protect them against the bill. IOL Politics