High Court Declares Dr Mpho Phalatse as CoJ Executive Mayor

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Photo: Mpho Phalatse/twitter

Just in almost a month after being axed as City of Johannesburg Executive, Dr Mpho Phalatse has been reinstated back to the sit as the city mayor by the High Court sitting in Johannesburg.

Phalatse was axed through a motion of no confidence that was tabled against her not long after a new speaker was elected in the city council. She lost her sit to the ANC’s Dada Morero.

She then took the matter to court together with her party the Democratic Alliance (DA) and won the case today. The judge presiding over of the matter said the axing of Phalatse unlawful and any decision taken by Morero should be declared invalid and unlawful.

Judge Raylene Keightley ruled that the DA’s court application was urgent “as contemplated by Rule 6 (12) and the usual forms, manner of service and time periods set out in the Uniforms Rules of Court”.

She added that the decision of Speaker Makhubele, on 29 September 2022, to schedule an extraordinary meeting of council to vote on the motion of no confidence in Phalatse, on 30 September, was unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

As a result, her decision taken during the programming committee meeting has been reviewed and set aside.

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