Statement by Lawrence Troon, GOOD Nelson Mandela Bay
29 August 2021
Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Nqaba Bhanga is an unguided missile.
A few years ago a young woman said to be his girlfriend was killed in a car crash after he’d apparently sent his driver to fetch her, and last night two people died in a crash involving the mayor (who was said to be driving his own vehicle).
The GOOD party extends its condolences to the families of the two victims, whose identities have yet to be revealed, and wishes speedy recoveries to a third person injured in the crash, as well as to the hospitalised mayor.
Reports that a charge of culpable homicide is under investigation by police are welcome.
Photographs of the crash scene appear to indicate that the Mayor was in possession of tender documents at the time of the crash. This, too, must be investigated as it would be unlawful for the mayor to possess procurement documents. The Mayor and DA must explain why the Mayor had “requests for quotation” for printing services documents in his possession. Mayors are not supposed to be involved in procurement.
It is unclear if the accident occurred past the curfew deadline. If it did, Bhanga must explain his business being on the road.
According to his Twitter timeline, the mayor celebrating his birthday yesterday. He tweeted earlier: “I woke up with a prayer, to thank God for everything that I have achieved, for the strength to continue leading Nelson Mandela Bay residents with humility and the knowledge to lead them to prosperity.”
After the death of his girlfriend in the 2019 crash, Bhanga’s political party, the DA, said it would investigate the matter – but no outcome of such as investigation, if one took place, was ever made public.
Bhanga is not just the sitting mayor, but was announced this week as the DA’s candidate to return to the position after local government elections.
With the election around the corner, it’s a good time for the people of Nelson Mandela Bay to show this unguided missile the door.