Johannesburg - The DA has welcomed the decision by the High Court in Pretoria on Monday to dismiss an application to nullify the council meeting at which Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle was unseated.
“Today's ruling means that the DA now officially governs Tlokwe, and will do so for the foreseeable future,” Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said in a statement.
“This is an important moment in the continued growth of the DA across the country, and in the continued realignment of South African politics....
“The positive response from the residents of Tlokwe to the DA taking control of Tlokwe has been overwhelming.”
Judge Neil Tuchten said on Monday that the council meeting and the decisions of the council to remove Maphetle and vote in DA councillor Annette Combrink as mayor were lawful.
“It is declared that the occupation of the municipal office premises by the second applicant (Maphetle) and other respondents (to the DA's counter application to have them vacate the offices)... is unlawful,” he said.
“The respondents... are hereby ordered to vacate the office premises... before 10am on the day following the granting of this order.”
Tuchten said the sheriff of the court was directed to evict whoever did not comply with the order.
On July 2, Combrink was voted in as the new mayor for the second time since November, unseating Maphetle
The application by Maphetle and Tlokwe speaker Barei Segotso sought to have the meeting at which Combrink was voted in nullified.
Zille said the judgment allowed Combrink and her team to enter their offices.
“(It also)... ends the ANC's attempts over the last month to make it impossible for the DA to begin delivering a stable, clean, and efficient government in Tlokwe.” - Sapa