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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay has recently learned that six additional security officials have been frivolously added to Executive Mayor, Cllr Mongameli Bobani’s security detail.

Mayor Bobani previously only had two Close Protection Officers assigned to him and has been granted two more officials from the Department of Safety and Security.

Furthermore, a Traffic Department vehicle with two officers and a Metro Police vehicle with two officers will also escort him from 08:00 to 16:00 every day. This means that Mayor Bobani has 8 security officials with him at all time.

Removing Traffic Department and Metro Police vehicles and officers from the road to follow the Mayor around has cost implications.

Traffic Officers are employed at a monthly salary of about R28 000, while Metro Police Officers earn about R18 000 per month. These officials are now being paid for performing non-core functions. Both departments are understaffed and cannot afford to have fewer vehicles and officers on the road. Paying officers to provide a frivolous service to the Mayor is wasteful to say the least.

Mayor Bobani’s request highlights that he cares more for his own safety than for the safety of the residents.

The DA has also been reliably informed that the relevant departments have not been provided with a risk analysis. Such an analysis must be completed to ascertain if additional safety officers are needed to ensure the safety of the Mayor.

I will now submit questions to the Municipality and request that a risk analysis, which should form the basis of the request for additional security, be provided.

Only a DA government can fight corruption, provide clean and transparent governance and build One South Africa for All.

Issued by The DA