NELSON Mandela Bay mayor Nondumiso Maphazi has stepped down.

NELSON Mandela Bay mayor Nondumiso Maphazi has stepped down.

Maphazi told a media briefing in Port Elizabeth yesterday that she had accepted the ANC's decision to "redeploy" her to the Bisho legislature, a local ANC party official said.

She would serve in premier Noxolo Kiviet's office, but it was not clear what position she would hold.

The decision to move Maphazi was made last week. On Friday the party said it had removed her to "protect and guard her dignity".

Challenges

Eastern Cape ANC leaders met Maphazi last week and agreed she should be removed as mayor immediately, provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyana said.

He said the metro had many political and administrative "challenges".

"There are challenges both in the council and outside. Now here we have someone who seems not too willing to work with the ANC, the party that deployed her as mayor," he said then.

The situation became so tense it had become impossible for Maphazi to address public gatherings.

"She was getting exposed really badly. People on the ground would boo and howl insults at her, showing no respect for her because they felt she was not performing well," Mabuyana said.

Councillor Zanoxolo Wayile was expected to be sworn in as the new mayor today. - Sapa