Mpho Phalatse reinstated as mayor of Johannesburg

The DA welcomed the October 25 judgment in the High Court.

This judgment upheld the rule of law and showed that the speaker of the council, Colleen Makhubele and the ANC acted illegally, dishonestly and unconstitutionally by effectively staging a coup in hastily removing the duly elected executive mayor of Johannesburg and members of the mayoral committee.

Judge Raylene Keightley expressed this in her judgment, “I find that the speaker was not lawfully permitted to treat DA councillors as if they had no right to participate in the council meeting because they had refused to sign the register.

“This means that she acted unlawful and contrary to the prescripts of the constitution and the rules in refusing to permit them to speak in refusing to consider their request for a caucus break, and for refusing to permit them to object to or to vote against the motion of no confidence.

“It follows that she also acted unlawful in treating the motion as unopposed. Her conclusion that it was unopposed and hence to refuse to permit any debate on the motion was fatally tainted with illegality through her unlawful refusal to permit DA councillors to participate in the proceedings of the council.”

Dr Mpho Phalatse said this judgment should act as a warning to politicians across the country who are prepared to do anything, even undermining the law, to grab power for the sake of accessing resources instead of doing the work they were elected to do and delivering quality services to residents.

“Over the last few weeks, we have been engaging with various political parties and stakeholders who do not want to see service delivery in Joburg collapse under a corrupt government.

“Therefore, I will call an immediate meeting of the reinstated mayoral committee. The residents of the country’s economic capital deserve a capable and stable government that will repair and rebuild Joburg.

“At this time, we will also be reviewing all decisions made by the illegal ANC executive, especially those that sought to facilitate corrupt acts in the city.

“The taps of corruption will once again be closed so that we can keep the lights on, the water running and keep residents safe. Residents will once again begin to see and feel a different and better Joburg.

“This is indeed a victory for the rule of law and the residents of Joburg,” she said.