The disgruntled former councillors are challenging their suspension and subsequent expulsion from the party after rebelling against the Free State ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and voting with the opposition to elect Gilbert Mokotso as the mayor of Maluti. Last month media reports indicated that the applicants had submitted their founding affidavit and supporting documents. OFM News spoke to Moroka Attorneys and they confirmed that they will be representing ANC National and the party’s National Disciplinary Committee. The law firm added that they would submit their answering documents on January 23.

Mokotso, who is among the expelled councillors, was replacing the controversial Vusi Tshabalala, who was recalled by the then Free State Provincial Task Team (PTT) in early May 2018 after the municipality fell into a crisis over its financial woes. Not only had service delivery come to a halt with Maluti unable to pay over employees’ third-party contributions and pension funds, but the municipality is confirmed to owe Eskom close to R3 billion.

This is the second ANC vs ANC court case before the Free State High Court within a week. Last week Thursday, February 7, the matter between four disgruntled ANC members and the party’s leadership in the province sat in before High Court Judge, Fouché Jordaan. The applicants were challenging the legality of the 2018 provincial elective conference. Judgment was reserved for an unconfirmed date, but the applicants - Matshepo Ramakatsa, Lebeko Maile, Themba Mvandaba, and Shashapa Motaung – are positive Jordaan’s ruling will come out in their favour.

OFM News