‘Transparent Hypocrisy’ – DA Seeking Court Action After MEC Maile Suspends Party Councillors In JHB & Tshwane

Riyaz Patel

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will approach the courts over Thursday’s decision by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to suspend the former Speaker of the City of Johannesburg for three months without pay, and the Speaker of the City of Tshwane for six months.

MEC Lebogang Maile said Vasco Da Gama in Johannesburg and Katlego Mathebe in Tshwane breached the Code of Conduct as outlined in the Municipal Systems Act, Schedule 1, and invoked item 14(6) which states that the MEC may suspend or remove a councillor from office.

Maile said his decisions in respect to both councillors was consistent with the law and impartial to avoid accusations of tilting the balance of forces in councils to favour a particular political party.

“It is important to note that these decisions are based on strengthening local government by ensuring those elected into positions of