The African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg said the move by ousted mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse to take the matter to the high court was a sign of desperation to cling onto power.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dr. Phalatse – the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in Johannesburg – said she had filed papers to challenge her removal as mayor of Johannesburg.
Dr. Phalatse lost a no-confidence vote on Friday after her party colleagues walked out without voting.
On the same day, Dada Morero, the ANC chairperson in Johannesburg, was elected unopposed to be the new mayor. He was sworn in on Saturday.
The DA says the process followed to unseat Dr. Phalatse was unlawful and it is banking on the courts to hear the matter and reverse what it sees as a “travesty”.
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Responding to the move, the ANC in the Greater Johannesburg Region said it “notes the desperate attempts to hang on to power by the DA and former Mayor in Johannesburg”.
In a statement, the ANC said: “The DA, unsurprisingly, refuses to accept the democratic outcomes of Council, in particular, the fact that its former mayor and the party as a whole, no longer enjoys the confidence and support of the majority of parties and councilors in the City of Johannesburg.”
The ANC said it was now a matter of “common public knowledge” that “there is no longer a DA coalition” in Johannesburg.
The ANC said the DA and former mayor’s latest court approach are “further confirmation of the arrogance and anti-democratic tendencies”.
Last week on Friday, Dr. Phalatse failed to secure an urgent interdict from the high court to stop her ouster. The matter was deemed not urgent.
The ANC statement added: “Furthermore, the DA cannot continue to fool the public by falsely claiming to have the confidence and support of a majority of Johannesburg residents whereas they received only 26.1 % of the November 2021 electoral votes.
“We have taken note of papers submitted to the Speaker of Council and the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg.”
The ANC said it was confident that both the Speaker of Council and Mayor Morero will successfully defend the matter.
The party, which took back power in Johannesburg, said it won’t be distracted from the immediate tasks that require attention, that being, serving the residents of Johannesburg.
“We remain steadfast and committed to a City that works for its residents,” said the ANC.
“A city that is clean, safe, and functional. Allowing residents to enjoy a meaningful stay, work, and play.”
