The DA will request the MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu, to investigate the involvement of the Mayor and the Speaker of Fetagkomo-Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) in the unlawful quest to get rid of the municipal manager following yet another unfavourable court ruling against the municipality.
The order on 3 June 2025 by the Limpopo High Court to set aside a council ruling to nullify the cautionary suspension of the municipal manager and to prohibit the council from taking any further disciplinary processes against the municipal manager until the final determination of the review application vindicates the DA’s long-held position.
The chaos around the municipal manager’s suspension started in October 2024, when he was placed on cautionary suspension following dubious claims of misconduct. A series of questionable council resolutions ensued, which the DA either opposed, or was prevented to oppose through the Speaker’s disregard for the rules.
The court found that the disciplinary process was fatally flawed from the start and ordered that the initial council resolution must be reviewed.
Throughout the process it was clear that Mayor Edwin Maila is law a unto himself.
At the time and to avoid wasteful legal expenditure, the lawyers for the municipal manager wrote to the lawyers of the municipality, outlining the current legal position and case law; which was outright rejected
Even with the latest judgments in hand, Mayor Maila refused the municipal manager entry to the premises and went as far as to send out a notice warning officials not to communicate with the municipal manager.
Following the court ruling earlier this week, the council defiantly resolved to appeal; again the DA objected against this folly and warned against costs orders against council and councillors in their personal capacity.
The residents of FTLM continue to bear the brunt of senseless legal costs; like the desperate Frans Park residents, who have been without electricity for 21 years now.
The DA will submit questions on the legal costs pertaining to this witch hunt – someone must be held accountable for the ANC’s total disregard of the rule of law.