Tshwane Speaker rules mayor’s initial resignation stands, council is dissolved
Former Tshwane mayor Randall Williams initially resigned effective midnight on February 13 but later amended his resignation to February 28. Now the Speaker of council says the first resignation was in fact the correct one and Williams is no longer mayor of Tshwane.
Randall Williams is no longer serving as the metro’s mayor, Tshwane Speaker Dr Murunwa Makwarela told the media on Tuesday at Tshwane House.
This also means that Williams’ Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) has been dissolved.
Makwarela said the metro had chosen the “wrong” resignation when Williams handed in two written resignation letters on February 13.
“On the day, at 09:19, I received a letter via email from Williams resigning as the mayor effective from midnight of that day.
“Later at 10:24 on the same day, Williams sent another letter where he changed the effective date of his resignation to midnight on February 28.”
Makwarela said the main reason for changing the date was to ensure that the council’s work wasn’t interrupted during the notice period.
He said after seeking legal opinion from an external legal firm, it was decided that the first resignation was valid.
On February 20, his office got a formal legal opinion that Williams’ initial February 13 resignation was valid and that the resignation took effect at midnight of the same day.
The later date amendment was thus unlawful and “has no force and effect”.
This was after Makwarela asked the Tshwane governance and support officer to provide an external legal opinion on the two resignation letters.
“In ensuring good governance, this sensitive matter received the attention it deserved objectively and professionally without any political interference.”
He said the two legal options were sought after opposition parties’ concerns regarding the two resignation letters.
The focus will now shift to convening a council meeting to elect a new mayor.
A date to do so will be determined by the Speaker of the council.
“I will make sure that a mayor will be elected in due course to ensure that the city’s priorities are always at the forefront.”
He said the mayor would likely be from the DA as per the coalition agreement.
Makwarela said that according to the Municipal Structures Act, the council had to elect a new mayor “as soon as necessary”.
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