Johannesburg - The South Gauteng High Court has ruled in favour of the multi-party coalition in the City of Johannesburg, interdicting a scheduled council meeting that was supposed to take place on Tuesday.
The meeting had been scheduled to elect a new speaker to council following the departure of Vasco da Gama from the speaker's post.
The court also ruled that the chair of chairs Cope’s Colleen Makhubele was not the Acting speaker and should stop purposing himself as such.
Makhubele was also expected to pay the costs of the applicants.
A spokesperson for the multi-party coalition Corné Mulder said he was shocked at the actions of the Chair of Chairs. He said the coalition was vindicated by the ruling.
Makhubele's role as Acting Speaker was seen as a pathway that would allow the ANC back in power.
"The ruling is a humiliating defeat to the ANC and EFF opposition bloc, which called this meeting with the sole purpose of trying to take back the City of Johannesburg through an unlawful coup.
"It is clear that this grouping will stop at nothing in a coordinated attempt to prevent the positive alternatives to ANC misrule and state capture," Mulder said.
Mulder said the multi-party coalition would propose a motion of no confidence in the Chair of Chairs in retaliation to her actions. This will be heard on September 28.
"The multi-party coalition will be unequivocal in how we act to remove Makhubele for betraying the residents of Johannesburg from the position of the leadership entrusted to her within the multi-party coalition," Mulder said.
The private office of the Mayor of Johannesburg also released a statement welcoming the ruling of the high court.
A spokesperson in the mayor's office Mabine Seabe said the City's acting City Manager, Brian Maduka, would issue a notice informing council members of an upcoming council sitting where a speaker would be elected.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to Council will continue ensuring that other affairs are carried out to ensure the smooth running of the legislature.
The Star