The opposition party – the DA – on Wednesday (24/8) had a second victory against the troubled municipality. The Free State High Court ruled in favour of the DA and declared the election of another opposition party's councillor as the mayor, as unlawful and invalid and set it aside. 

The two judges also handed a personal cost order against the Speaker of the municipality, Lucas Fisher. The DA’s National Federal Council Chairperson, Hellen Zille, said in a statement that the party welcomes the judgment by the High Court. She said the party is vindicated that the motion of no confidence in Jeff Zwane was unlawful.

“We further welcome the Free State High Court’s personal costs order granted against Fisher, the rogue Speaker of Metsimaholo, who stubbornly failed to appreciate the rights of Mayor Jeff Zwane to call for witnesses during the illegal motion. On 1 August, the ANC/EFF tabled an illegal motion of no confidence in Mayor Zwane, who led the DA's minority government after the DA blocked tens of millions of rand in illegal payments to a developer.

“The municipality does not owe this money to the developer, which we see as a veiled attempt by the ANC/EFF to loot the municipality. If this money is paid illegally, the budget for service delivery will be eliminated.” 

Meanwhile, the municipality’s spokesperson, Gino Alberts, said the municipality was studying the judgment. He said the municipality will await the full judgment expected to be delivered within the next ten days to determine the appropriate cause of action. Accordingly, the municipality respects the rule of law and thereby will abide by the decision of the Free State High Court,” Alberts said.

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