Parliamentary COGTA Committee Places Nelson Mandela Bay Metro on Notice Over Repeated Accountability Failures

COGTA chair Zweli Mkhize warns Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Babalwa Lobishe over accountability failures. Parliament demands answers on metro disorganization.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 10:36 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from EWN

Escalating Tensions Between Parliament and Metro Leadership

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has intensified its scrutiny of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro following a series of missed deadlines and ignored communications. Chairperson Zweli Mkhize issued a stern warning on Thursday, clarifying that the national legislature has a constitutional obligation to investigate allegations of impropriety and the potential abuse of public resources. This formal notice follows a particularly heated meeting last week where the committee confronted the metro’s leadership over their failure to account for various administrative concerns.

Criticism of Mayor Babalwa Lobishe’s Conduct

A primary point of contention for the committee is the conduct of Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe. Mkhize noted that the mayor’s office had ignored months of official correspondence and direct calls from Members of Parliament. During the committee’s latest session, Mkhize described the lack of response as a "mark of disorganization in a serious office." He reiterated that being a public representative carries a non negotiable duty to account to both Parliament and the South African public, regardless of the difficulty of the questions posed.

Allegations of Administrative Irregularities and Underspending

The committee's interest in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is driven by reports of serious administrative irregularities and significant underspending. Recent briefings indicated that the metro, along with Buffalo City, is among the biggest culprits regarding the failure to utilize allocated budgets within the Eastern Cape. This lack of financial execution has direct implications for service delivery in a region already grappling with infrastructure challenges. Parliament is now demanding detailed written reports to explain these failures and provide a roadmap for administrative stabilization.