PORT ELIZABETH - WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OUTGOING MAYOR DANNY JORDAAN SINCE DA'S VICTORY?

Outgoing Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Danny Jordaan has been largely silent in the wake of his party’s loss to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the local government elections.

Eyewitness News has been told Jordaan will not be doing any interviews at this stage, and his aides have referred all queries to the provincial leadership of the African National Congress (ANC).

The DA is now the biggest party in the metro with 57 seats in Council.

Mayor-elect Athol Trollip will need to form a coalition to govern.

Media reports this week highlighted Jordaan's noticeable absence from the Port Elizabeth election results centre.

The ANC deployed Jordaan to take over the ailing municipality last year from his predecessor Ben Fihla.

Jordaan's focus has been on restoring the metro's financial health and stability.

He also pushed for cost-cutting in a bid to reduce the metro's R430 million budget deficit.

His attempt at rooting out corruption saw 29 senior managers being given the boot.

But he was heavily criticised by his political rival, Trollip, for slashing the municipality's R123 million infrastructure maintenance budget, and for backing the appointment of Linda Mti as the city's head of safety.

Mti has a drunk driving conviction and is allegedly linked to fraudulently awarded tenders at the Correctional Services department.

Trollip says there will be no place for municipal staff linked to corruption and impropriety under his watch.

VIA - ewn.co.za