ANC acknowledged office occupation had no legal basis

During the meeting requested by the North West ANC Chair, Supra Mahumapelo, earlier today, the DA was informed that the former Tlokwe Executive Mayor, Maphetle Maphetle and his former mayoral committee will vacate the municipal offices immediately. He said that they will invite DA Executive Mayor Annette Combrink to welcome her in the offices and to do a formal handover.

He further said that the ANC will formally withdraw their High Court application for leave to appeal against a judgment handed down on Monday by Judge Tuchten.

The DA welcomes this decision by the ANC - it vindicates our position (also strengthened by the high court judgment) that the ANC had no justification for their occupation of the offices other than to frustrate the DA and the municipal administration - all at the cost of the community that it was elected to serve.

The DA's Annette Combrink and her team are ready to start with their task. The first priority is to bring stability and sound administration back to the municipality. Committees that have become dysfunctional must be revitalised and the backlog of neglected issues must be cleared.

Statement issued by Chris Hattingh, DA Leader in the North West, July 31 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter