Pretoria – The Democratic Alliance (DA) is basking in the glory of its court victory that nullified the suspension of City Manager Johann Mettler for alleged wrongdoing.
The DA and Solidarity, on behalf of Mettler, had approached the court separately to challenge the Speaker’s move to deduct 13 votes in the council meeting that voted for the city manager’s suspension.
On Friday, 31 July 2026, the High Court in Pretoria ordered that the resolution of the second respondent (City of Tshwane), taken on 9 July 2026, placing the fifth respondent (Johann Mettler) on precautionary suspension as City Manager, is suspended.
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The court also ruled that the Speaker, Council, City of Tshwane and Mayor are interdicted and restrained from giving effect to, implementing, or acting upon the said suspension resolution, including from appointing or maintaining any person in an acting capacity in the office of the City Manager in place of the fifth respondent
Commenting on the ruling, the DA said: “Today’s judgment is a victory not only for the DA, but also for the rule of law, good governance and the residents of Tshwane.
“The Court has restored the lawful administration of the City by ordering Johann Mettler’s return to work as City Manager.”
The DA said the court ruling stopped the City of Tshwane from “installing an acting City Manager at the start of the municipal financial year, to gain control over the City’s budget and open the door to looting”.
DA Tshwane Mayoral Candidate Cilliers Brink said this case was about preventing the capture of Tshwane’s administration and defending institutions that belong to the people of the capital, not the politicians who temporarily occupy public office.
“By setting aside the unlawful decisions of the ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition to suspend Tshwane City Manager Johann Mettler, the court has reaffirmed that political majorities cannot ignore the law, manipulate Council processes or use municipal institutions to protect politically connected individuals,” said the DA.
Meanwhile, ActionSA, the party to which Tshwane Mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya belongs, said it welcomes the High Court judgment interdicting the suspension of City Manager Mettler.
“Importantly, the judgment of the Gauteng Division, Pretoria of the High Court relates to the ruling of the Speaker of Council and not the Executive Mayor,” ActionSA said in a statement made available to The Bulrushes.
ActionSA explained that Mayor Moya submitted papers to the Court outlining the statutory obligations of her office in relation to this matter, confirming her compliance with those obligations while formally recording her intention to respect the outcome of the legal proceedings.
“Notwithstanding the legal obligations of ActionSA Tshwane Executive Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, to table allegations of misconduct against a senior manager, it should be correctly noted that ActionSA voted against the proposal to suspend Mr. Mettler,” the statement said.
“In fact, it was ActionSA that tabled the recommendation in Council not to suspend Mr Mettler, a position that was ultimately supported by the Democratic Alliance and other parties.”
ActionSA said its vote against the suspension should have been sufficient to prevent it from taking place.
“However, the leave of absence granted to a large number of DA and FF Plus [Freedom Front Plus] councillors resulted in the now impugned ruling by the Speaker of council to discount the votes of those councillors when they later arrived at the Council meeting.
“The attempts by the DA and FF Plus to portray this matter as a political victory are shallow.
“The Court has merely corrected the consequences of the Speaker’s ruling in relation to councillors who chose to absent themselves from the work they are elected and paid to perform by attending Council meetings and voting on behalf of their constituents.”
