ANC Ditches Legal Route In Joburg Mayor Election Postponement Matter

Riyaz Patel

The ANC says it has been advised not to legally challenge the decision to postpone Thursday’s Johannesburg council meeting meant to elect a new mayor.

As a result, the party won’t go to court to fight the DA speaker’s decision.

The party was considering launching a legal challenge, a move its allies said could have serious consequences.

“Honestly if this thing is sent to the courts, the DA will use it as an excuse. Then we will only revisit the issue of electing a new mayor in March, or even later. The court route will take time,” said a councillor from one of the ANC’s partners in council, News24 reported.

The sitting aimed at electing Herman Mashaba’s replacement ended when council speaker Vasco Da Gama told councillors he thought it best to postpone it to December 4, in order to seek a legal opinion over what constitutes a