NAFCOC Nelson Mandela Bay firstly acknowledges the initiative taken by the ANC regional executive together with the Eastern Cape provincial executive committee to address its key social partners on Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's current affairs in relation to the city management.
We welcome the decision of the ANC at large with the new deployment of MP and ANC veteran Ben Fihla (as many call him Oom Ben) as the mayor and regional ANC deputy chairman Thando "Chippa" Ngcolomba as the deputy mayor.
Our support for the ANC is by no means giving preference to any specific individual but support to the organisation's decision, as we all should do. We further call on the business community to show its support to ensure that there is a smooth transition in this process.
We trust that this decision will bring about change in the metro as we are all aware of the current activities that have caused instability, threatening service delivery and proper municipal management.
Our support does mean we will not continue to voice our frustrations as the small business community to this municipality and regional ANC. We hope to see change and most importantly we hope to see small businesses fairly benefiting.
We are delighted that this move by the ANC comes at the time of a new budget.
Unathi Sonti, secretary-general, Nafcoc, Nelson Mandela Bay