Tebogo Msimanga |
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the dismissal of Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Lebogang Maile’s appeal and the long-awaited Constitutional Court judgment on placing the City of Tshwane under administration. The Constitutional Court ruled in DA’s favour and affirmed that the ANC power grab in Tshwane was unlawful
DA Tshwane Mayoral Candidate Randall Williams said the Constitutional Court’s ruling vindicates the DA’s stance that MEC Maile’s decision to dissolve Council and place the City of Tshwane under administration was unlawful.
“It was obvious from the court judgment that the ANC’s action to put the City of Tshwane under administration for a period of eight months, from March 2020 to October 2020 was a politically-motivated power grab on the part of MEC Maile.”
Williams added that there was no justification for removing elected DA councillors from their positions and replacing them with administrators who left the City in chaos and near financial ruin.
The court’s order properly ensures that the councillors duly elected by the citizens of Tshwane in 2016 are allowed to resume their rightful constitutional role, powers and responsibilities.
The order gives effect to the rights of voters and preserves the autonomy of local government and it cannot be faulted.
Willimas further said for months, the residents of Tshwane suffered under unelected and unlawfully deployed ANC administrators imposed by MEC Maile. “In just eight months, they brought the city to its knees, collapsing service delivery and incurring a R4.3 billion deficit.During their tenure critical operations effectively came to a stop.”
