On 30 December, the High Court overturned the council’s decision taken on 10 December 2020 on a special council sitting to oust mayor Daniel Buthelezi, with ANC members also voting with opposition parties. The aggrieved mayor then requested the High Court to overturn the decision. He was victorious with the court issuing an order that he must be reinstated immediately, effective from the 31st of December 2020. 

The municipal spokesperson, Pius Batsile, tells OFM News that during Thursday's special sitting the council will consider the ruling.

Batsile says he has no clue of any reasons brought forward by members of the council which compelled them to remove Buthelezi. Buthelezi is one of the Troika members, which include council speakers and chief whips in the province who were instructed by the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) to step down.

In September 2020, the ANC IPC's Kenny Morolong told OFM News that the ANC decided to recall these members after it had identified the collapse of service delivery, infighting, and municipal leaders relegating their authority to gangsters who he alleges are now in control of these municipalities.

Some of these Troika members, who have been affected by this, include, amongst others, the Matlosana mayor Maetu Kgaile, Speaker Washington Ntozini, Ditsobotla mayor Daniel Buthelezi, and Dr Ruth Segomotsi District executive mayor Boitumelo Mahlangu, speaker Lerato Setlhake, and chief whip Motaung Moseswa.

OFM News