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Mongameli Bobani (12 July 196811 November 2020) was a South African politician and lawyer. He served as the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality from August 2018 until December 2019. He was previously the Deputy Executive Mayor and the Member of Mayoral Committee for Public Services.Sain, Raahil. UDM's Mongameli Bobani elected mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, IOL, Eastern Cape, 27 August 2018. Retrieved on 1 October 2018. Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Mayor removed in vote of no confidence, Eyewitness News, 24 August 2017. Retrieved on 1 October 2018. Axing of UDM's Mongameli Bobani 'worrying', Eyewitness News, 17 May 2017. Retrieved on 1 October 2018.
In 2016, the UDM announced that Bobani would be the party's mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality in the upcoming 2016 municipal elections. His main focus points were job creation, service delivery and eradicating corruption. He announced that the party would be targeting 40 wards. The party later won no wards, but earned 1.9% of the vote giving them two seats on the council.Tandwa, Lizeka. UDM mayoral candidate 'in it to win it', News24, 13 May 2016. Retrieved on 1 October 2018.
After the 2016 municipal elections, no party had received an outright majority on the Nelson Mandela Bay council with Democratic Alliance as the largest party with 57 seats, four seats short of a necessary majority of 61 seats. The Democratic Alliance announced that they would enter a coalition with the United Democratic Movement, Congress of the People and African Christian Democratic Party, giving them an effective majority of 61 seats on the council. The UDM later withdrew and was replaced by the Patriotic Alliance.Spies, Derrick. DA locks down on Nelson Mandela Bay with multi-party coalition, News24, Port Elizabeth, 17 August 2018. Retrieved on 1 October 2018. On 18 August 2016, Athol Trollip was elected Executive Mayor with Bobani as Deputy Executive Mayor. Bobani succeeded Bicks Ndoni, who was appointed in May 2015. WATCH: Trollip sworn in as PE mayor, Bobani deputy, 18 August 2018. Retrieved on 1 October 2018. Athol Trollip announced that Bobani would take up the position as Member of Mayoral Committee for Public Health. Meet Trollip's A-team, Port Elizabeth, 7 September 2016. Retrieved on 1 October 2018.
In May 2017, Mayor Athol Trollip released a statement announcing that he had removed Bobani as MMC for Public Health. Trollip stated that the Public Health Directorate had been a concern, given that serious allegations of maladministration and impropriety were made. He also called Bobani's public behaviour and conduct unacceptable. Nelson Mandela Bay deputy mayor sacked as health MMC, News24, 16 May 2017. Retrieved on 1 October 2018.
In August 2017, the Patriotic Alliance councillor brought forward a motion of no confidence against Bobani to remove him as Deputy Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay. The opposition parties, including Bobani, staged a walkout when the Speaker did not allow more than one member of each political party to debate the motion. The Speaker Jonathan Lawack announced after the vote that the motion had passed with 60 members in favour of his removal.Spies, Derrick. UPDATE: Bobani ousted as deputy mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, News24, 24 August 2017. Retrieved on 1 October 2018. Bobani subsequently filed an urgent application to be reinstated as Deputy Executive Mayor, since the meeting was deemed illegal by opposition parties because they alleged there was no quorum. The Eastern Cape High Court dismissed the application. Bobani: Urgent application struck from roll with costs, News24. Retrieved on 1 October 2018. The UDM released a statement stating that the party had withdrawn from the coalition agreement. The Patriotic Alliance replaced the UDM, but later also withdrew.
In December 2017, Trollip announced that Lance Grootboom of the African Christian Democratic Party would fill the position of MMC for Public Health. The department was under Trollip's direct political rule since Bobani's dismissal in May.Sain, Raahil. Trollip reshuffles Nelson Mandela Bay mayco team, fills Bobani vacancy, IOL Eastern Cape, 11 December 2017. Retrieved on 1 October 2018.
The National Treasury's chief director for local government analysis has raised concerns over "alleged interference in supply chain management procedures" under Bobani's watch.
On 1 November 2018, the United Democratic Movement said that Bobani would submit his bank statements to the party following the report that detailed that money was paid into his account by a company alleged to have stolen funds meant for the city's bus system. Mongameli Bobani to submit bank statement over 'suspicious' payments, EWN, 1 November 2018.
On 2 November 2018, a motion of no confidence failed to remove Bobani. The motion was brought forward by Councillor Lance Grootboom of the African Christian Democratic Party and Councillor Siyasanga Sijadu of the Congress of the People. Both councillors cited corruption and theft linked to the integrated public transport system (IPTS) as their reasons for tabling the motion. Bid to have motion of no confidence brought against Bobani fails, News24, 2 November 2018. On 14 November 2018, the African Christian Democratic Party renewed its bid to remove Bobani as Mayor via a vote of no confidence. ACDP launches bid to oust Bobani, HeraldLIVE, 14 November 2018.
On 22 November 2018, the Democratic Alliance proclaimed that the party would pursue a criminal case against Bobani. DA to open a criminal case against Mongameli Bobani, HeraldLIVE, 22 November 2018. On 27 November 2018, the Democratic Alliance called on Cooperative Governance Minister Zweli Mkhize and his Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance counterpart to intervene in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. On 6 December 2018, Bobani survived another vote of no confidence that was tabled by opposition parties.
Bobani’s office had been criticised for late payments to contractors since his appointment. The Creditor's System Efficiency Ratio, a performance indicator used to measure the efficiency of paying creditors, has a target of 80% while Bobani’s office has reportedly scored only 64% and 55% respectively for September and October 2018. NMB mayor Bobani's office slow to pay service providers, News24, 15 December 2018.
On 2 April 2019, the Hawks confirmed that they had raided Bobani's residence and mayoral offices over allegations of tender fraud. They seized cellphones and a laptop belonging to his wife. This was the second raid in six months. Hawks swoop on Bobani's home over NMB tender fraud. Retrieved on 3 April 2019. Mongameli Bobani laughs off questions about Hawks raid. Retrieved on 3 April 2019. Hawks raid Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani's office, home. Retrieved on 3 April 2019.
On 5 December 2019, he was removed as Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay after a majority of councillors voted for his removal. He had in total survived five motions of no confidence.
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