The controversial transfer by Ekurhuleni municipal supervisor Dr Imogen Mashazi to take away member of the mayoral committee Ndzipho Khalipa has taken a brand new twist, with the Congress of the People (Cope) stepping up the pressure.
The social gathering challenged mayor Tania Campbell, council speaker Raymond Dlamini, Mashazi and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on noncompliance in the method.
Without consulting members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council coalition authorities, Mashazi “suspended” Khalipa from the council. He was changed by Cope member Thomas Mofokeng.
This infuriated social gathering leaders, who reiterated Khalipa was “a duly deployed councillor”.
In a letter dated 6 July, 2022 addressed to Mashazi, Campbell and Dlamini, Cope nationwide secretary for elections Mzwandile Hleko mentioned it had come to the eye of the social gathering “that David Ofentse Malatji fraudulently altered the Cope IEC PR (proportional representation) list by withdrawing Mr Ndzipho Khalipa who was number one on the Cope IEC list in Ekurhuleni, replacing him with Thomas Mofokeng, who is number two on the party IEC list in the City of Joburg”.
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The letter mentioned Malatji had no authority to make such choices on behalf of Cope.
“Such powers and authority are solely vested inside the congress nationwide committee (CNC) of Cope and the author hereof, who’s the one competent particular person to speak all resolutions and choices of the CNC.
“What is extremely illegal is taking somebody who seems on one other Cope IEC record in Johannesburg and putting him on the Ekurhuleni Cope IEC record. This is extremely irregular.
“We have tried to intervene to cease this unlawful course of by sending correspondence to the IEC Gauteng workplace, bringing the matter to the eye of Thabo Masemola, mayor of Ekurhuleni and the IEC commissioner.
“This letter serves to advise you that Cope withdraws the title of Thomas Mofokeng, who was sworn in on 5 July in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council, changing Cope Ekurhuleni councillor Ndzipho Khalipa.
“Kindly communicate our decision to the IEC within 24 hours of receipt of this letter. Should you fail or ignore this letter, Cope will take this matter to court,” learn the letter.
Hleko mentioned Cope had “democratic, transparent process and procedures within its constitution and policies, wherein the suitability of its members for deployment to public office are considered”.
Khalipa has taken authorized motion in opposition to his removing. The case is registered in the High Court in Pretoria.
In a letter to Dlamini, Campbell and Mashazi, Khalipa’s attorneys confirmed receiving correspondence from Cope deputy president Willie Madisha, Hleko and Ekurhuleni regional chairperson M Khan denying that Khalipa was eliminated by Cope.
“We have been instructed to demand you furnish our office with an undertaking on or before 12h00 on 4 July that the swearing in of Mr Mofokeng will not proceed,” they mentioned.
IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela and Campbell weren’t out there for remark.