Tshwane administrator back at work amid ongoing legal wrangle
Mpho Nawa will return to his seat as the Tshwane administrator amid the ongoing legal battle for control of the city.
The Tshwane council sitting, which was set for Friday, had to be postponed when the Gauteng government lodged an urgent appeal against a high court ruling which brought to an end the administration process in Tshwane.
It will likely be weeks before the matter is heard at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.
Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial chairperson Mike Moriaty says he’s disappointed but not surprised at the latest development.
“What has been happening has been quite evident – it is not about the constitutional principle. The constitutional principle have been very well spelled out in the judgments that have been handed down.”
“It’s about a power grab.”
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The Gauteng government has lodged an urgent appeal against a high court ruling which brought to an end the administration process in Tshwane. The High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday ruled in favour of the Democratic Alliance's (DA) application to have the court judgment - declaring the dissolution of the Tshwane council illegal - implemented immediately.
The ongoing battle for power in the capital has left it without a mayor since the resignation of Stevens Mokgalapa in February.
Moriaty says there are signs that the administrators are out of their depth.
“When we get back into office, we’ll be able to determine what has and hasn’t been done then we’ll be able to give you a full report. But I can say that there are definite things that were mishaps.”
Mortiaty adds: “There are signs that there are things that aren’t going well but whether or not that is a situation that’s been a complete failure, we can’t say that. There are some indications that there are some good things being done by the administrators.”