Trollip says he won’t be ‘blackmailed’ by Patriotic Alliance in PE

Responding to UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Athol Trollip has described a demand from the Patriotic Alliance (PA) to be given the post of deputy mayor as “blackmail”.

He said he would refuse to give in to that.

Athol Trollip told Holomisa. “Blackmail indeed!! We won’t be blackmailed by anybody or any party.”

Blackmail indeed!! We won't be blackmailed by anybody or any party. https://t.co/t6w9TRrdFb

— Athol Trollip (@AtholT) September 21, 2017

On Wednesday, the PA gave Trollip until Thursday morning to nominate its councillor, Marlon Daniels, as the new deputy mayor, or they would withdraw from the coalition.

If the PA were to rejoin the opposition – where they were up until last month – the odds of Trollip and the DA remaining in control of the metro would shrink considerably, as they would face 61 against 59 if they are unable to patch things up with the UDM.

The UDM, led by Bantu Holomisa, was previously in coalition with the DA, and lost its attempt to urgently have the high court declare Bobani’s removal illegal.

PA councillor Marlon Daniels was adamant he should be nominated for the vacant position of deputy mayor after he initially brought the ultimately successful motion of no confidence in the previous UDM incumbent Mongameli Bobani.

Daniels was given the vacant portfolio of public health after Bobani’s ousting, but explained his party had initially “asked for MMC of safety and security”.

“Athol Trollip said he’s not going to give us safety and security, we must take public health [Bobani’s previous role while deputy mayor]”.

Daniels said: “I told [Trollip] today in our meeting: ‘Mayor, it is all good and well that you’ve taken safety and security. If you take deputy mayor off the table now, too, then it means this is not a negotiation – it is dictating from you.’”

McKenzie told The Citizen he had personally given Trollip until Thursday [tomorrow] at 10am to nominate Daniels for the position or they would pull out of the coalition.

He responded to Trollip’s tweet by saying: “You have been spoilt by the many subservient Blacks who have repeatedly asked you as to how high they should jump.”

You have been spoilt by the many subservient Blacks who have repeatedly asked you as to how high they should jump. https://t.co/FCke3n3bmk

— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) September 21, 2017

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