Democratic Alliance of South Africa and Others v City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and Others (33441/13) [2014] ZAGPPHC 153 (28 March 2014)

Democratic Alliance of South Africa and Others v City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and Others (33441/13) [2014] ZAGPPHC 153 (28 March 2014)

The court found that the Ward Committees By-law was invalid due to non-compliance with section 160(4) of the Constitution and relevant statutory requirements for public participation and promulgation. The Ward Committees Document, which purported to regulate the elections, was never promulgated as a by-law and thus...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2014] ZAGPPHC 153
Parties
Applicant: Democratic Alliance of South Africa; Applicant: Middelburg, Alexander Willem Frederik; Applicant: Van der Walt, Phillipus Andries; Respondent: City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality; Respondent: Ramokgopa, Kgosientso; Respondent: Ngobeni, Jason; Respondent: Mosupyoe, A W M K; Respondent: Mphephu, Adolfus; Respondent: The Minister of Provincial and Local Government; Respondent: The MEC: Provincial and Local Government Gauteng Province; Respondent: The Independent Electoral Commission
Court
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
33441/13
Procedural Posture
Review Application / Judgment
Outcome
Application granted in part; by-law and elections declared invalid; costs awarded against first respondent.
Judges
Fourie
Legal Topics
Municipal by Laws, Public Participation, Ward Committee Elections, Promulgation Requirements, Constitutional Invalidity, Costs Order
Administrative Law Constitutional Law Civil Procedure Municipal by Laws Public Participation Ward Committee Elections Promulgation Requirements Constitutional Invalidity +1 more

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Parties

Democratic Alliance of South Africa

Applicant

Middelburg, Alexander Willem Frederik

Applicant

Van der Walt, Phillipus Andries

Applicant

City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

Respondent

Ramokgopa, Kgosientso

Respondent

Ngobeni, Jason

Respondent

Mosupyoe, A W M K

Respondent

Mphephu, Adolfus

Respondent

The Minister of Provincial and Local Government

Respondent

The MEC: Provincial and Local Government Gauteng Province

Respondent

The Independent Electoral Commission

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Review Application / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the Ward Committees By-law was validly enacted in compliance with section 160(4) of the Constitution and relevant statutes.
  2. 2 Whether the ward committee elections conducted in 2012 were valid and constitutional.
  3. 3 Whether the Municipality is obliged to promulgate a new by-law and arrange fresh elections.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the Ward Committees By-law was invalid due to non-compliance with section 160(4) of the Constitution and relevant statutory requirements for public participation and promulgation. The Ward Committees Document, which purported to regulate the elections, was never promulgated as a by-law and thus lacked legal force. Consequently, the ward committee elections conducted in 2012 were unconstitutional and invalid, as they were held without a valid regulatory framework. The court declined to grant a mandamus compelling the Municipality to promulgate a new by-law and arrange elections, as there was no evidence of refusal to fulfil statutory obligations. The court also refused...

Court Disposition

Application granted in part; by-law and elections declared invalid; costs awarded against first respondent.

Orders

  • The By-law on Public Participation: Ward Committees, Petitions, Public Meetings and Hearings of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality as published on 1 February 2012 is declared invalid and void due to non-compliance with section 160(4) of the Constitution, read with section 12(3)(a) and 13(a) of the...
  • The Ward Committee Elections for the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality conducted during 2012 are declared unconstitutional and invalid.