Riyaz Patel
Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile has, following legal advice, rescinded the suspension of the two DA Councillors with immediate effect.
Maile last week suspended City of Johannesburg, Cllr. Vasco Da Gama and current Speaker of the City of Tshwane Katlego Mathebe for 3 and 6 months respectively, saying the pair had breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors as outlined in the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act No. 32 of 2000.
Da Gama allegedly failed to respond to a letter regarding his decision to suspend the special Johannesburg council meeting to elect a new mayor on October 27, claiming he needed to seek legal advice on what constituted a majority in council.
Maile called this a “total disregard for meaningful engagement.”
Mathebe was suspended after she refused to give into to calls by the ANC and EFF to change the order in which motions would be heard at a council meeting, or to recuse herself, which ultimately led to the collapse of council as the two parties staged a walkout.
In a statement Monday, Maile’s spokesperson Castro Ngobese said the MEC had been “engaged” in a series of consultations with legal advisors, and “in light of the advice received, MEC Maile has taken a decision to rescind the suspension of the two Councillors with immediate effect. Such a decision has been formally communicated to Cllrs Da Gama, Mathebe and their lawyers.”
Some netizens were quick off the mark in blasting Maile.
The DA had threatened court action unless Maile rescinded his decision.
