By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
City of Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse has been ousted from the position by the city council on Friday (30 September).
Phalatse was removed through motion of no confidence on Friday. This despite her filing an urgent court bid to interdict the special council sitting.
Her interdict was struck off the roll by the Johannesburg high court.
The count showed 139 councillors voted in favour of the motion to remove Phalatse as mayor.
The motion of no confidence was tabled by minority parties in the city and followed a controversial path to the actual vote.
The toppling of the DA-led coalition government started with opposition parties in the city – including the ANC, PAC, EFF and smaller parties – voting out speaker Vasco da Gama at the start of the month in a narrow result of 136 to 132 votes for and against.
This was followed by the self-appointment of COPE member Colleen Makhubele as speaker, which was subsequently declared invalid by the courts.However, during a legitimate vote earlier this week, Makhubele was voted in as speaker despite this.
Makhubele convened the sitting and presided over a chaotic sitting with numerous interruptions and points of order.
But Makhubele ignored the disruptions and proceeded with the house business of the day, passing the motion to remove Phalatse.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) abstained from the vote, and Makhubele has since allowed for a caucus break before forging ahead with voting in a new mayor.
Thus far, ANC regional chairperson Dada Morero is tipped to be the City’s next mayor.
The coalition government has characterised the motions of no confidence against its members as an attempt by criminals to get their hands on the city’s coffers.
However, while the coalition puts out statements as a united front, it appears to be tearing apart at the seams.