Danny Jordaan has been appointed mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro following an intervention by senior ANC figures including party secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, who are visiting the region.
He replaces 82-year-old Ben Fihla, who has been able to unite the region and focus local government on delivery.
The ANC metro has been hamstrung by factional battles and is widely believed to be heading for an electoral defeat by the opposition DA in next year's local government elections.
The ANC narrowly held onto the municipality in the 2011 local elections securing only 51.9% of the vote, dropping from 66.5% in 2006.
It is set to fate a steep challenge from opposition parties in next year’s municipal polls, with the Democratic Alliance (DA), newcomers the Economic Freedom Fighters and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa’s United Front all lining up to take on the governing party.
Support for the DA grew from 24% in 2006 to 40% in 2011. It has chosen provincial party leader Atholl Trollip as its mayoral candidate.