Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Mongameli Bobani expressed his dissatisfaction with the low-key reception the organisers and participants of the protest march against gender-based violence received yesterday (14 September).

"Besides the fact that the march was not included in my diary on Saturday, I am very unhappy about the amateurish way the administrators in my office handled the receipt of the petition. 

"I would like to unreservedly apologise to the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, as I was neither briefed about the event nor given an opportunity to address the concerned marchers myself.

"Under no circumstances would I have allowed an official to receive the petition on my behalf, at this gathering of national importance.

"I will get to the bottom of this and will read the responsible officials the riot act, and depending on what I find, further actions could follow.

"The low-key reception is inexcusable and contrary to our recent statements and the hosting of a prayer session (last week) following a spate of femicide cases rocking our country. We called on men to take a leading role on behalf of women as the unrelenting scourge of violence against them continues unabated.

"I strongly condemn gender-based violence and femicide. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will therefore not stand for any form of ill-treatment of women and children in their cause for justice and a safer society,” Mayor Bobani said.

Ends

Issued by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Office of the Executive Mayor. For more information, please contact Mayoral Spokesperson, George Geleba, at 071 403 7585 or ggeleba@mandelametro.gov.za.