Member of Alianza Patriótica outside one of the polling stations.
Haron Seretlo/Gallo Images via Getty Images
- The Western Cape High Court removed an urgent application filed by the district attorney and the Cederberg Eerste party from the list of urgent cases.
- The DA party and Cederberg Eerste wanted the motions of no confidence against the Speaker and the Executive Mayor to be considered.
- The Speaker determined last month that the motions were legally flawed and did not comply with council rules.
The DA and Cederberg Eerste party suffered a setback on Friday after the Western Cape High Court quashed its urgent application against the municipality of Cederberg.
The district attorney and the Cederberg Eerste party launched an urgent request for an order from the Western Cape High Court to hear motions of no confidence against House Speaker Maxwell Heins and Chief Executive William Farmer.
Last month, the Speaker determined that the motions were legally flawed and did not comply with the Council’s Rules of Order.
However, the court said that the request was submitted at very short notice on the urgent list, for a repair that was clearly not urgent.
The municipality said in a statement: “The legal representatives of the municipality have warned their counterparts acting for the DA and Cederberg Eerste party leader Ruben Richards about this and that taxpayers’ money should not be wasted on legal fees for matters that fall within the political arena and must be resolved there.
“The timely offer to withdraw their application was unfortunately rejected by the applicants, forcing the municipality to go to court.”
READ | Attempt to oust ANC and Patriotic Alliance leadership in Cederberg township fails
Last month, an attempt by opposition party members to overthrow the ANC-Patriotic Alliance leadership in the beleaguered township of Cederberg failed miserably.
The opposition parties DA, FF Plus and Cederberg Eerste tried to vote no confidence in the ANC/PA leadership in the municipality, after winning an important victory during the by-election in October.
But instead of a vote of no confidence, four councilors from the FF Plus and Cederberg Eerste parties were forced to leave the meeting amid allegations of misconduct.
The head of the prosecutor’s constituency in Cederberg, Andricus van der Westhuizen, told News24 that he was disappointed by the court’s decision not to treat the request urgently.
He said:
It is important that the municipal administration is clear about who is supposed to adhere to and implement the mandate. There are various views on how the organization should operate. There are massive implications for an administration that is in limbo right now.
Van der Westhuizen said the municipality’s financial situation remains the biggest concern so far, as it has been struggling to pay off the debt to Eskom.
In September, News24 reported that the municipality owes the power company R47 million.
“Everyone wants good management and I’m afraid Cederberg Township has been suffering,” he said.
After last year’s local government elections, Cederberg was among the hung councils and an agreement was signed between DA, FF Plus and Cederberg Eerste.
The DA terminated the membership of Farmer, currently mayor of the borough, after he voted with the ANC in a vote of no confidence in Richards, the mayor at the time.
The AP tabled the motion, which the ANC seconded during a full council meeting in July.
Farmer is now with the Palestinian Authority.
