COGTA chair Mkhize puts Nelson Mandela Bay metro on notice

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Portfolio Committee chairperson Zweli Mkhize has issued a warning to the Nelson Mandela Bay metro on the need to account to Parliament.

This follows last week's heated meeting with the metro's leadership and mayor Babalwa Lobishe, after she ignored months of correspondence and calls from MPs and the committee.

Mkhize said Parliament has an obligation to ask the 'uncomfortable questions' where there are allegations of impropriety or administrative irregularities and abuse of public resources at the troubled Eastern Cape Metro.

In a statement on Thursday, Mkhize emphasised that all public representatives have a duty to account to parliament and to the public.

Mkhize said constructive engagement through oversight processes is essential to strengthening democratic governance.

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On Nelson Mandela Bay metro, Mkhize said there has been a series of follow-up correspondence in which the committee requested more information on several serious concerns and the municipality did not respond to most of the requests.

Mkhize had strong words for Lobishe during the committee's last meeting for her failure to respond.

"That for us is a mark of disorganisation in a serious office."

Mkhize added that the committee will call the municipal leadership, including the executive mayor, for another follow-up meeting once it receives written reports on all the information requested.