DA calls for Maile’s immediate suspension following court ruling on Tshwane
The party says the judge was scathing of the MEC's inability to bring ANC and EFF councillors to book for the dysfunctionality at the council.
Gauteng MEC for cooperative governance Lebogang Maile. Picture: Itumeleng English / African News Agency (ANA)
The DA has called for the immediate suspension of Gauteng MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Lebogang Maile following a court ruling invalidating the dissolution of the Tshwane council.
On Wednesday, the High Court in Pretoria handed down a judgment in which the decision by the Gauteng provincial government to place the City of Tshwane under administration was overturned.
The DA noted that Judge President Dunstan Mlambo had been scathing of Maile’s inability – “and by extension, the Gauteng Executive Council and Premier David Makhura” – to bring “truant” ANC and EFF councillors “to book despite having the power of the Systems Act Code to do so, saying that this would clearly have been a more appropriate course of action than the dissolution of council”.
ALSO READ: DA wins court battle to invalidate dissolution of Tshwane council
The DA said Mlambo laid the reason and blame for the dysfunctional Tshwane council firmly at the feet of the ANC and EFF councillors whose continued walkouts left the council unable to conduct its business.
“He rightly points out that these councillors were prioritising their own party political agendas over their service to the people.
“In the light of the judge’s devastating comments on the role Maile played in the collapse of the Tshwane council, we have no choice but to call for his immediate suspension. The DA will also now consider taking action in the NCOP, where the ANC was equally complicit in their eagerness and haste to support this power grab.”
(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)
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