As a key council meeting approaches, Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Mayor Gary van Niekerk has used social media to defend himself against accusations related to a failed pothole repair promise and ongoing legal battles. He claims media misquotes and political maneuvering undermined his efforts. The meeting on 10 November will likely scrutinize his position following a recent contempt of court conviction.
Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Mayor Gary van Niekerk, who previously served as mayor from May 2023 to October 2024, has been actively posting on Facebook to share what he calls 'The Truth' about controversies surrounding his tenure. With a council meeting set for 10 November, where his future as a city official is expected to be discussed, van Niekerk addressed a 2023 pothole repair initiative that drew criticism.
On 6 December 2023, then Executive Mayor van Niekerk launched 'Operation Gatvol', an ambitious road maintenance campaign in Kabega Park. According to reports in The Herald, he vowed that all potholes on major routes throughout Nelson Mandela Bay would be repaired by Christmas Eve. At the time, 14,000 potholes were logged on the municipality's system, with R500,000 pledged per ward, totaling R30 million.
However, the following day, MMC for Roads and Transport Bradley Murray raised a point of order in council, publicly distancing his department from the promise. By Christmas, approximately 9,000 potholes remained on record, and the initiative faded. Van Niekerk now contends he was misquoted, claiming he intended to 'fix the majority of potholes' rather than 'all'. 'It is this critical misquote, the Deputy Mayor contends, that laid the groundwork for the subsequent political fallout,' he wrote on Facebook.
He described his reaction to Murray's intervention as one of 'visceral understanding rather than anger', noting that Murray later apologized, saying 'Sorry bra'. Van Niekerk suggested Murray acted under instructions from political superiors, leaving him with a sense of public embarrassment.
Beyond the potholes, van Niekerk faces serious legal challenges. He is accused of fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) from 2022, involving unauthorized legal bills exceeding R570,000. His trial is scheduled for May 2026. Additionally, he was convicted of contempt of court for missing a court date and fined R2,000.
At a recent council meeting, DA councillor Morné Steyn proposed consulting Cooperative Governance MEC Zolile Williams on van Niekerk's position post-conviction, but Speaker Eugene Johnson blocked the motion. Johnson later sent a letter with the proposal to Williams, though attempts to reach him for comment failed. 'This is not just a story of roadworks, but a candid look at the high-stakes, and often brutal, nature of coalition politics in the Bay,' van Niekerk stated in his post.