While the Madibeng council was sitting, Maimane was in court with an urgent application to prevent the Speaker from presenting the motion. He was saved in the nick of time when the court order interdicting the speaker from proceeding was delivered while the motion was already being addressed.
Despite this, the speaker, Ditshego Mbezi, was adamant about continuing with an amended motion by the ANC. A large number of councillors walked out of the meeting to avoid possible contempt of court charges. The council meeting subsequently collapsed due to a lack of quorum.
This follows Maimane’s recall as mayor by the ANC last week after a leaked audio recording surfaced, in which he allegedly offered opposition councillors R200 000 to campaign against his own party.
Despite the recall, Maimane remained in office and instituted legal proceedings. He has filed an urgent application in the Gauteng Division of the High Court against the ANC, its secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, and others. The application seeks to have the decision to recall him as Executive Mayor reviewed and set aside.
Maimane argues that his recall was based on incorrect information and that he was not given a fair opportunity to present his case, as required by the ANC’s constitution and the Constitution of South Africa.
In a media statement, Maimane said steps are now being taken to institute criminal charges of contempt of court against the speaker and any councillors who acted in violation of the court order.
DA spokesperson Erna Rossouw questioned the speaker’s competence to serve in her position. “She has proven that she cannot maintain order in the council, and her actions during Wednesday’s meeting suggested a hidden agenda,” Rossouw said.
Elsa Lourens of the Freedom Front Plus welcomed the collapse of the council meeting before the motion could be voted on. “If there had been a quorum and the motion was voted on and approved, it would have resulted in staggering costs for the municipality. It is clear the ANC is conniving once again,” she said.
