Adendorf’s bid to nullify axing struck from roll

PROVINCIAL executive member (PEC) of the ANC Western Cape and former spokesperson Lionel Adendorf brought an urgent application to have the reinstatement of suspended provincial treasurer Maurencia Gillion and his axing as political head of communication overturned, but it was struck off the roll in the Western Cape High Court.

Adendorf was supported by acting ANC provincial chairperson Khaya Magaxa in the application that was heard yesterday. He also wanted his removal as official spokesperson and political head of communications be declared invalid. He was relieved of his duties on Saturday, following the lifting of the suspension of Gillion the previous day.

In his ruling, Judge Derek Wille found that there were no grounds for the matter to be treated as urgent and that the Adendorf failed in carrying out the court procedures regarding the delivery and service of the notice of motion on the respondents.

“The problem I have with this application is that it was not procedurally correctly served. The papers were delivered at the ANC office in Adderley Street around 5pm. The security guard who received the papers nowhere indicated in a register that he did receive it and this is procedurally wrong. If it was urgent why weren’t the papers delivered the next morning. The application is irregular from the word go because it did not comply with the rules,” Judge Wille said.

The ANC Western Cape secretary Faiez Jacobs welcomed the decision by the court to strike the matter off the roll. He also confirmed that the Western Cape ANC deployees to the National Council of Provinces, provincial treasurer Gillion and Edward Njadu were due to be sworn in today.