The multi-party coalition in Gauteng says the Johannesburg High Court decision is a victory for the people of Johannesburg.
The High Court has granted the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and the multi-party government an injunction against Tuesday’s extraordinary Council meeting and declared it null and void.
The court also declared Council of the People (COPE) member Colleen Makhubele non-acting Speaker of the Council and barred her from performing any statutory functions as Acting Speaker of the City of Johannesburg Council.
The multi-party coalition, which includes the Democratic Alliance (DA), ActionSA, Patriotic Alliance (PA), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), COPE and Freedom Front Plus (FF+), say the ruling vindicates them.
FF+’s Korn Mulder, who is speaking on behalf of the coalition, said: “In this case, it allows the multi-party coalition to continue delivering services because that’s what it’s all about. We are happy that we have once again been able to defend the will of the voters in the COJ against another attempt by the electoral bloc of the ANC (African National Congress) to try to gain control of the COJ this time through an illegal coup.”
selfish political games
Johannesburg City Hall earlier welcomed the verdict. He called on political opponents to stop and abandon destructive and selfish political games.
[STATEMENT] The High Court should issue a direction regarding the vacancy in the Speaker’s office pic.twitter.com/0BjQ1qFBIZ
— Executive Mayor Mpho Phalatse (@mphophalatse1) September 12, 2022
ActionSA says the ruling is a humiliating defeat for the ANC and the electoral bloc of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who called the meeting for the sole purpose of trying to take back the city of Johannesburg through an illegal coup.
The statement said: “It is clear that this group will stop at nothing in a coordinated effort to prevent positive alternatives to ANC misrule and state capture. The ruling is also a complete vindication of the ruling multi-party coalition government and, most importantly, a victory for the people of Johannesburg.”
We, along with our coalition partners, welcome the ruling of the South Gauteng High Court which states:
1. The meeting convened by the chairman of the departments is invalid & prohibited;
2. Makhubele does not act as Speaker; &
3. Makhubele is ordered to pay the costs. https://t.co/HdLGzaDDho— ActionSA (@Action4SA) September 12, 2022
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