Johannesburg – With the countdown to the exit of improperly appointed City Manager Floyd Brink, the Speaker of Council has sounded the alarm regarding the impact of the high court order on service delivery.
On Wednesday, (4 December 2024), the high court in Johannesburg ordered Brink to leave the City Manager position within 10 days.
RELATED: High Court Orders Joburg City Manager Floyd Brink To Quit His Job In 10 Days – The Bulrushes
A day after the court order, Speaker of the Joburg Council, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, said: “This development comes at a critical time when the City of Johannesburg is grappling with a severe water crisis and requires steadfast leadership to navigate these pressing challenges”.
In a statement on Thursday, (5 December 2024), the Speaker expressed “deep concern over the potential impact of these developments on service delivery when the focus should be on solving the many challenges the City is currently facing.”
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA), which brought the matter of Brink’s irregular appointment to the court, said soon after the judgment that he “must resign”.
Buoyed by the court ruling the DA said: “Any employment contract or performance contract between the CoJ and now former City Manager, Floyd Brink, has been set aside”.
The DA added: “Not only has his reappointment been set aside and declared unlawful, but Judge Wilson has also awarded the DA costs in this matter”.
For whatever reason, the DA refers to Joburg City’s multiparty governing coalition that includes the African National Congress, Economic Freedom Fighters, Patriotic Alliance, and ActionSA as the “Doomsday Coalition”.
“In one fell swoop the court has upheld what the DA has maintained since Brink’s problematic tenure began – the Doomsday Coalition in the City of Joburg’s illegal and unconstitutional conduct will not stand,” the DA declared.
Needless to mention, Speaker Mthembu has urged all those involved “in this matter to prioritise a swift and amicable resolution”.
She said the growing impatience of the residents of Johannesburg over the lack of service delivery has been demonstrated by the latest series of protests over disrupted water supply.
“The people of Johannesburg need reliable service delivery now more than ever and the City cannot afford any more instability and leadership vacuum during this crucial period,” the Speaker said.
“It is imperative that we work together to restore stability and ensure that the City’s leadership is equipped to address the urgent needs of our communities.”
