DA mayoral candidate Athol Trollip was elected unopposed as the executive mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday.

“The people of Nelson Mandela Bay have voted for change. They have endorsed our offer of stopping corruption, growing our economy, to create jobs and for better service delivery,” he said during the first meeting in the city council.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for our political history as we begin our new phase of multiparty endeavor to free ourselves from the impact of decades long maladministration and corruption that have bequeathed us with a record unemployment and poverty in this city.”

Trollip was nominated by councilor Nqaba Bhanga to loud cheers in the house. As DA councillors celebrated by clapping and cheering, some ANC councilors walked out of the house.

Boos were heard as they left.

UDM councillor Mongameli Bobani was elected unopposed as deputy executive mayor.
The election of the Nelson Mandela Bay leadership unfolded amid drama in the house.

ANC councillors claimed some of their counterparts, including former mayor Danny Jordaan, were locked out by security.

They demanded that proceedings be halted until all members were in the house to which the speaker, Jonathan Lawack, responded that the doors were closed after the sitting started at 10am.

There was a commotion when former mayor Nceba Faku walked into the house carrying an ANC flag.

Earlier, the ANC had threatened to go to the High Court if the council meeting was not halted, claiming the seat allocation was flawed.