‘Govt will be compromised if Cape Town mayor appointment is delayed’

The City of Cape Town says governance will be compromised if it further delays the appointment of a new mayoral committee, scheduled for Monday.

Ousted mayor Patricia de Lille applied for an urgent interdict this past week in Cape Town High Court to reinstate her membership of the Democratic Alliance (DA).

She also asked the court for interim relief pending the outcome of the urgent application to retain her position as Executive Mayor. Judgment has been reserved until the 25th of this month.

The court interdicted the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) from filling her city council position.

However, Acting Mayor, Ian Neilson says it’s urgent that budgets be finalised for the new financial year.

Piera Abbott, Spokesperson for the Acting Mayor, says by law they are required to appoint a committee to assist in governing the city.

“At the completion of proceedings on Friday evening, the court had reserved judgement and indicated it was not in a position to indicate when its ruling would be delivered. The city is advised that legally, nothing precludes Alderman Neilson from making the appointment, but out of respect for the court he will delay making the appointment until 3PM Monday the 14th of May,” says Abbott.

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