The PA wants Nelson Mandela Bay speaker Eugene Johnson to set up a multiparty panel to investigate DA councillors after a bust-up at its constituency office near the Gelvandale swimming pool.
It wants the panel to investigate allegations of extortion and intimidation of a contractor doing upgrades at the pool. It was allegedly forced to pay R45,000 to SMMEs.
PA councillor Gavin Jonas wrote the letter to Johnson’s office on Monday.
He called for a panel to determine whether the councillors had brought the council into disrepute and violated their code of conduct.
“The action of the five councillors borders on extortion, which is serious and criminal in nature,” he said
“Councillor Georgina Faldtman [allegedly] even went to the extent of unplugging the power tools of the contractor, which can be interpreted as her making good on their word to close the site.
“The councillors decided to storm a political office [and allegedly] made threats, intimidated and extorted money.
He said the councillors had failed to ask the metro about the development and procurement processes and had instead opted to bring the city into disrepute.
“The conduct of the councillors is criminal of nature,” the letter said.
The director of the speaker’s office, Dumisane Mbebe, confirmed receiving the motion.
“I will discuss the contents of the documents with the speaker to determine its competence for it to be tabled in council next week,” he said.
There was a heated confrontation on Thursday, with DA northern areas chair Faldtman leading a group of councillors and a small contingent of Ward 13 SMMEs to the PA’s constituency office next to the pool.
During the exchange, it was alleged that PA president and sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie had used his position to benefit his supporters.
To continue with the project, the PA alleges, the contractor was forced to pay the SMMEs R45,000.
DA caucus leader Rano Kayser said the motion was not worth the paper it was printed on.
“We have entered the season of political silliness with the local government elections coming in 2026,” he said.
“The DA rejects with contempt any allegations made against our councillors because that motion makes accusations without any evidence
“No-one does ward councillors a favour by not informing them about projects in their wards because they are the ones responsible for communicating with the community.
“If it does make its way to council we will defend our councillors.”
Jonas said the councillors need to be removed from the council.
"They must go. We are doing our part, the contractor I understand is also looking into what he can do about what happened," he said.
On Friday, municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the refurbishment of the pool was funded by McKenzie’s department.
While funded by his department, the metro would monitor the implementation of the upgrades.
According to a report for the municipal committee agenda, the pool refurbishment is a legacy project initiated by McKenzie to rehabilitate the St George’s and Gelvandale pools for the commemoration of Human Rights Day this week.
The meeting was scheduled to sit on Friday, but was postponed.
The Herald
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