Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Gary van Niekerk has confirmed sending a letter to Boqwana Burns Incorporated for legal services but said this was done in defence of the municipality in his capacity as the former speaker of council.
Van Niekerk, in a statement, was responding to questions sent to him in connection with a notice filed by ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom that called for him to be suspended following a probe by the rules and ethics committee.
Van Niekerk said Grootboom’s actions were a feeble attempt to gain relevance in a political environment where his party had lost its identity and was a watered-down version of the DA.
“Despite the action against my political party, we had an interdict in place that prohibited our removal as councillors.”
The municipality was interdicted from filling the party’s three vacancies with the IEC after city manager Noxolo Nqwazi declared the positions vacant.
The statement was released by municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron, who confirmed it was the interdict mentioned in the statement.
Van Niekerk, meanwhile, said that all the issues raised by Grootboom were in defence of the metro.
“The ultimate order of the court confirmed our good standing as councillors,” he said.
“Since I was elected as the speaker of council, by the majority of the municipal council, I fulfilled my duties as required to the best of my abilities.”
He said a vote of no-confidence against him would be for political expediency and not transgressions.
“The progress gained through the good work of the government of local unity is now a threat to our detractors, hence they are grabbing at straws to discredit our administration,” Van Niekerk said.
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