Motloung and Others v Nquthu Local Municipality and Others (6062/2020P) [2021] ZAKZPHC 17 (17 May 2021)
The court found that the appointments of the 28th to 30th respondents at the council meeting of 2 September 2020 were invalid due to non-compliance with the peremptory requirements of rule 13.2 of the standing rules, which prohibits the transaction of new business at continuation meetings. The urgency cited by the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] ZAKZPHC 17
- Parties
- Applicant: Tahleho Johannes Motloung; Applicant: Constance Thandiwe Buthelezi; Applicant: Lephla Sizakele Hoffman; Applicant: Nthabiseng Cynthia Xulu; Applicant: Ntomfikile Samkelisiwe Mkhize; Applicant: Lehlohonolo Cyprian Moloi; Applicant: Simangele Grace Kunene; Applicant: Moses Sipho Kevin Gumbi; Applicant: Goodwill Fukang Molefe; Applicant: Sibusiso Mandlenkosi Charles Zikode; Applicant: Nlebuheng Maureen Khanye; Respondent: Nquthu Local Municipality; Respondent: Council of Nquthu Local Municipality; Respondent: Bonginkosi Paul Gumbi; Respondent: Welcome Sakhile Mpanza; Respondent: Mpumelelo Baldwin Jiyane; Respondent: Zanele Sithole; Respondent: Richard Sikhumbuzo Langa; Respondent: Emmanuel Mbekezeli Mkhwanazi; Respondent: Mbongeni Ephraim Mnguni; Respondent: Emmanueal Lindokuhle Shabalala; Respondent: Njabulo Mbongiseni Buthelezi; Respondent: Sifiso Msalofy Buthelezi; Respondent: Sabelo Praisegod Mathe; Respondent: Fana Alfred Hletshwayo; Respondent: Siyabonga Mabilabila Kunene; Respondent: Jerry Nathi Khoza; Respondent: Joyce Zandile Ndima; Respondent: Sakhile Derrick Masimula; Respondent: Pertunia Phindile Ntombela; Respondent: Ntombikayise Goodness Mdlalose; Respondent: Mengiwe Ronit Ngobese; Respondent: Thamsanqa Abion Dlamini; Respondent: Bonginkosi Innocent Zwane; Respondent: Evelyn Thulisile Nhlebela; Respondent: Holihlahla Mntombuhle Shelembe; Respondent: Member of the Executive Council for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Respondent: Member of the Executive Council for Finance and Treasury, KwaZulu-Natal; Respondent: Sithembiso Blessing Mthembu; Respondent: Nombuso Zandile Mbongwa; Respondent: Bhekani Brian Sokhulu; Respondent: ABSA Bank; Respondent: First National Bank; Respondent: The Standard Bank of South Africa; Respondent: Nedbank; Respondent: Investec Bank
- Court
- Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Judgment Date
- 17 May 2021
- Case Number
- 6062/2020P
- Procedural Posture
- Review Application / Judgment
- Outcome
- The main application succeeds; the first impugned decision is declared invalid. The counter-application is dismissed with costs.
- Judges
- Mnguni
- Legal Topics
- Municipal Manager Appointment, Standing Rules Compliance, Ultra Vires Decision, Covid19 Regulations, Council Meeting Procedure
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Tahleho Johannes Motloung
Applicant
Constance Thandiwe Buthelezi
Applicant
Lephla Sizakele Hoffman
Applicant
Nthabiseng Cynthia Xulu
Applicant
Ntomfikile Samkelisiwe Mkhize
Applicant
Lehlohonolo Cyprian Moloi
Applicant
Simangele Grace Kunene
Applicant
Moses Sipho Kevin Gumbi
Applicant
Goodwill Fukang Molefe
Applicant
Sibusiso Mandlenkosi Charles Zikode
Applicant
Nlebuheng Maureen Khanye
Applicant
Nquthu Local Municipality
Respondent
Council of Nquthu Local Municipality
Respondent
Bonginkosi Paul Gumbi
Respondent
Welcome Sakhile Mpanza
Respondent
Mpumelelo Baldwin Jiyane
Respondent
Zanele Sithole
Respondent
Richard Sikhumbuzo Langa
Respondent
Emmanuel Mbekezeli Mkhwanazi
Respondent
Mbongeni Ephraim Mnguni
Respondent
Emmanueal Lindokuhle Shabalala
Respondent
Njabulo Mbongiseni Buthelezi
Respondent
Sifiso Msalofy Buthelezi
Respondent
Sabelo Praisegod Mathe
Respondent
Fana Alfred Hletshwayo
Respondent
Siyabonga Mabilabila Kunene
Respondent
Jerry Nathi Khoza
Respondent
Joyce Zandile Ndima
Respondent
Sakhile Derrick Masimula
Respondent
Pertunia Phindile Ntombela
Respondent
Ntombikayise Goodness Mdlalose
Respondent
Mengiwe Ronit Ngobese
Respondent
Thamsanqa Abion Dlamini
Respondent
Bonginkosi Innocent Zwane
Respondent
Evelyn Thulisile Nhlebela
Respondent
Holihlahla Mntombuhle Shelembe
Respondent
Member of the Executive Council for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Respondent
Member of the Executive Council for Finance and Treasury, KwaZulu-Natal
Respondent
Sithembiso Blessing Mthembu
Respondent
Nombuso Zandile Mbongwa
Respondent
Bhekani Brian Sokhulu
Respondent
ABSA Bank
Respondent
First National Bank
Respondent
The Standard Bank of South Africa
Respondent
Nedbank
Respondent
Investec Bank
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Review Application / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appointments of the 28th to 30th respondents as acting municipal manager, chief financial officer, and director of planning were validly made at the council meeting of 2 September 2020.
- 2 Whether the council meeting of 2 September 2020 was convened in compliance with the standing rules, specifically regarding notice and agenda items.
- 3 Whether the counter-application by the MEC to set aside the appointment of the 10th respondent as Mayor was sustainable under the COVID-19 regulations and standing rules.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the appointments of the 28th to 30th respondents at the council meeting of 2 September 2020 were invalid due to non-compliance with the peremptory requirements of rule 13.2 of the standing rules, which prohibits the transaction of new business at continuation meetings. The urgency cited by the municipal respondents did not afford the council discretion to bypass these rules. The court declined to set aside subsequent decisions made at the 22 September 2020 meeting, as they were not challenged in these proceedings. Regarding the counter-application, the court held that the COVID-19 regulations did not suspend special council meetings, and the procedural challenges...
Court Disposition
The main application succeeds; the first impugned decision is declared invalid. The counter-application is dismissed with costs.
Orders
- The first impugned decision is declared invalid.
- The declaration of invalidity takes effect from the date of this order.
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