Dr Mpho Phalatse is legally and constitutionally the Mayor of Joburg.
This was confirmed by the Johannesburg High Court, on Tuesday, following the Council’s decision to place a motion of no confidence against her.
The court has found, therefore, that the ousting of Phalatse as mayor took place during an illegal gathering and has been declared unlawful.
ANC’s Dada Morero, who was then elected as Joburg mayor was unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid, said the Court.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) argued last week that the decision by Johannesburg Council Speaker Colleen Makhubele to call an extraordinary council sitting two days after her election last month was unlawful.
Phalatse has celebrated Tuesday’s court outcome, calling it a victory for democracy.
On Tuesday evening, Phalatse chaired an urgent virtual meeting of the Mayoral Committee in order to the get the City and its Executive back to work.
“It must be noted that in the few weeks that the illegally installed Executive were in office, the Mayoral Committee never sat. They did although attempt to convene a Mayoral Committee on the day that the High Court pronounced on their unconstitutional grab at power,” she said.
She said, while the legal battle for Joburg has been won, there are still political considerations that require my attention in order to further stabilise the City.
“I will therefore continue with engagements with political leaders to find a transparent and an organised agreement that keeps the corrupt out. This work will not come at the expense of the City’s core mandate – the delivery of quality basic services.
On behalf of the Executive of Joburg, I would like to thank all 6-million residents, across the seven Regions, for their patience, prayers, and messages of support,” says the Mayor.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of ANC in Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi, says they have accepted the court’s outcome and will not contest its merits.
But as for Ekurhuleni its’ boiling hot for Mayor Tania Campbell who today a motion of no confidence will be tabled against her.
Image (Back in the hot seat. Mayor of Joburg Dr Mpho Phalatse).
