A political party in council, the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats (AASD), has blamed the court debacle squarely on the shoulders of former City Manager (CM), Sello More.

AASD spokesperson, Zwelakhe Msabe, says the council decided to replace More with Teboho Maine in the CM position because More had failed to give a proper response to matters which involved the Mangaung Metro Police. 

Addressing OFM News outside the Free State High Court on Thursday, Msabe says the court action by Dukwana against the council is just to defend its decision of the alleged irregular appointment of More and to allegedly further disrupt council.

“In their application, they are saying that they are not trying to resuscitate Mr More. But go through that application and you would note that at no given stage do they give the premise to this application.

"Instead, they are putting forward an argument that seeks to reverse the decision of that council for obvious reasons. One of them is that the ousting of More was illegal and what do they stand to benefit if the court finds that More’s ousting was illegal? And secondly, would you say that the council needed to ignore the fact that More was illegally appointed? That’s another case,” he adds.  

OFM News previously reported that MEC Dukwana and the troubled Metro Council were expected to meet in chambers at the Free State High Court.

The case relates to an urgent court case which was brought by Dukwana against the Metro Council, following a decision to elect former Acting City Manager, Teboho Maine.

OFM News previously reported that in a two-page judgment, Judge Chesiwe ordered that Maine must be interdicted from assuming any responsibilities in the office of the City Manager.

READ MORE: Cogta MEC, Mangaung metro return to High Court

The Directorate of Social Services' head, Mzingisi Nkungwana, was appointed as the new acting City Manager of Mangaung.

Nkungwana replaces Teboho Maine, who was earlier chosen by the council to act in the position of the City Manager and replace former manager, Sello More.

OFM News