The Durban High Court yesterday dismissed an application by former deputy mayor Philani Mavundla to interdict the council from removing him from office.

This according to the eThekwini Municipality which released a statement saying that eThekwini Speaker Thabani Nyawose has welcomed the verdict.

According to the municipality, Mavundla brought forward an urgent application against the speaker and the municipality on December 15 – seeking an interim interdict against the council resolution to remove him as deputy mayor and executive committee member on December 13.

“We have been vindicated by the court. Today [December 30] it delivered its judgment where it found that we complied with the law when placing the motion for the removal of the former deputy mayor on the council agenda of December 13. The court further ruled that the council had not breached an earlier order granted in favour of the former deputy mayor on December 12,” says Nyawose.

Nyawose adds that under his stewardship of the eThekwini Council, rules will be adhered to.

Details of the reason why Mavundla was ousted, have not yet been made known.