In a surprise move likely to lessen the chances of the Democratic Alliance-led coalition retaining power in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro‚ the Patriotic Alliance has withdrawn its support of the coalition.
Patriotic Alliance councillor and national chair Marlon Daniels said he initially supported the DA-led coalition’s bid to challenge the removal of Athol Trollip as mayor and the election of Mongameli Bobani as mayor‚ but later had a change of heart.
“In our analysis‚ the motion of no confidence played out in an unfortunate manner‚ particularly for the DA‚ but we no longer feel there is a strong enough basis to challenge it‚ either in law or from a political perspective.
“The new coalition government under mayor Mongameli Bobani is now in power and needs to be given a chance to prove itself‚ ” Daniels said.
The DA approached the High Court in Port Elizabeth on Thursday to have Trollip’s removal and Bobani’s election nullified.
Judgment was reserved.