Parliament for South Africa don show serious vex for Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Babalwa Lobishe and her officials. Dem dey accuse dem of failure to account for one R25 million electrical transformer wey dem allegedly transfer to private company without proper process.
Zweli Mkhize, wey be chairman of Parliament Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs portfolio committee, don lambast Lobishe and Nelson Mandela Bay metro leadership for not responding well to requests for information. The committee don do oversight visit last year and since January 2026, dem don send multiple letters ask for documents and reports about governance, financial management and service delivery matters.
According to News24 report, the main issue na one R25 million state-owned transformer wey dem allegedly transfer irregularly to private company. Eastern Cape Hawks don confirm say dem dey investigate claims say Lobishe unilaterally transfer the transformer by bypassing council. The committee dey press Lobishe for details about this transfer and other governance issues.
Lobishe and NMB officials suppose appear before portfolio committee last week but dem no show. Lobishe and City spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya tell News24 say the sitting postpone for this week. However, Mkhize and the committee dey insist say the delays and incomplete responses dey affect Parliament ability to do their constitutional oversight work.
In statement wey Mkhize release, he talk say: “The portfolio committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has noted with concern the continued delays in, and incomplete responses to, requests for information following the committee’s oversight engagement with the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality last year.”
Mkhize emphasize say these requests no be discretionary matter. “They form part of Parliament’s constitutional responsibility to ensure accountability, transparency and effective cooperative governance. Timely and full cooperation from the municipality is therefore essential,” he add.
The committee don call on Lobishe and Nelson Mandela Bay metro leadership to prioritize full and transparent cooperation with Parliament. Dem expect the municipality leadership to appear before dem on Tuesday 24 March 2026. The committee also ask Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams to intervene and ensure say the municipality comply with their obligations.
Mkhize warn say: “Continued delays and non-compliance will compel the committee to consider further steps to ensure accountability.” The committee dey serious about getting all outstanding information before the appearance next week.
This matter dey come amid other challenges for Lobishe. News24 previously report say Lobishe don call out ANC members for ‘ill discipline’ toward her amid Hawks probe. She also don divulge details about her ‘paused’ Capitec account in court.
The Nelson Mandela Bay metro dey face multiple governance challenges, and this parliamentary pressure dey show how serious the issues dey. The R25 million transformer matter dey particularly sensitive because of the amount involved and the allegations of irregular transfer.
As South Africa dey work toward better governance and accountability, this case dey serve as test for how Parliament dey use their oversight powers. The outcome go show whether municipalities dey ready to account properly to elected representatives.
The committee dey emphasize say these matters no be just about paperwork but about real impact on communities. Governance and financial management issues wey dem identify during oversight visit dey directly affect service delivery for Nelson Mandela Bay residents.
All eyes dey on the Tuesday 24 March appearance. Whether Lobishe and her officials go provide satisfactory answers or the committee go take further steps remain to dey seen. But one thing clear: Parliament no dey play with their oversight responsibilities.
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