Mayor Gary Van Niekerk Triumphs in Gqeberha High Court, Retains NMB Seat

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Gary Van Niekerk has emerged a legal victor following the heated court proceedings held against City Manager, Noxolo Nqwazi at the Gqeberha High Court on Wednesday afternoon. Van Niekerk and his fellow National Alliance party member, Stag Mitchell, taking Nqwazi to court became inevitable after she declared their council seats vacant to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

This move emanated from an internal skirmish within their party where they were stripped of their memberships by an alleged rogue faction following a disciplinary hearing. However, Judge Denzel Potgieter ruled in favour of the NMB Mayor, and consequently issued an injunction, prohibiting Nqwazi from declaring their seats vacant.

The effect of this outcome is the resumption of normal operations for Van Niekerk and Mitchell in their roles as councillors. And this was immediate, marking a triumph for good governance as described by the jubilant mayor.

Mayor Van Niekerk was quoted saying, "The interdict against declaring vacancies illegally by phantom representatives of the National Alliance, in connivance with the fraud-accused city manager, constitutes a victory for good governance."

Meanwhile, the contest for the leadership within the National Alliance will be independently adjudicated in a separate case at a later juncture. NA member Japie Jansen maintains his conviction that he remains the party's rightful leader.