‘DA interdict may backfire’

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) court interdict to halt the removal of Tshwane mayor Stevens Mokgalapa might be legally sound, but it could anger the ANC and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to ensure the party never returns to power, said political analyst Somadoda Fikeni.

Mokgalapa was not going anywhere just yet as the DA got an interim court order from the Pretoria High Court yesterday, suspending Thursday’s vote to oust him.

Mokgalapa and the city’s council speaker Katlego Mathebe were on their way out after the EFF and ANC both voted for their removal in a motion of no confidence at Thursday’s council sitting.

Mathebe recused herself from Thursday’s sitting in an attempt to avoid conflict of interest in the motion against her. But Gauteng’s department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (CogTa) presided over the meeting and allowed for both EFF and ANC to nominate EFF councillor Obakeng Ramabodu to act in the speaker’s role.

The DA, however, took legal action, stating that the ANC and red berets had orchestrated a coup by hijacking the sitting.

Judge Neil Tuchten yesterday suspended all resolutions made in Thursday’s meeting pending the court’s final decision on December 17.

According to court papers, “Pending the finalisation of these applications, all resolutions passed by the continuation meeting are suspended and of no effect including: the appointment of an acting speaker; the passing of motion of no confidence in the speaker and removing her from office; the passing of a motion of no confidence in the mayor and removing the mayor from office”.

But politically, the DA could have shot themselves in the foot, Fikeni said.

“It might anger the ANC and EFF to make sure the DA never comes back. That is the problem when you use a one-dimensional approach,” he said.

While a way forward for the city was still unclear, CogTa MEC Lebogang Maile announced yesterday they would place the city under administration as service delivery and supply chain challenges compromised the city’s functionality.