Breaking News: Out and now back again – Makwarela is Tshwane mayor again
Confusion as Makwarela is reinstated after he provides proof that he has been rehabilitated following his 2016 insolvency.
Confusion ruled in Tshwane this week as Murunwa Makwarela was kicked out as mayor on Tuesday, only to be reinstated again today.
Makwarela was disqualified from being mayor when it was revealed that he declared insolvency back in 2016 and allegedly wasn’t rehabilitated, as required by law, to hold the post.
Since then, the metro has received a notice of solvency rehabilitation from Makwarela. “City manager Johann Mettler has received such a notice this morning,” said Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba confirmed on Thursday.
Mettler has subsequently informed the Gauteng Provincial Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to immediately withdraw the declaration of a vacancy for the Cope proportional representative councillor.
“The IEC has since undertaken to process the letter.”
According to Bokaba, all Makwarela’s benefits and perks as mayor were reinstated. Makwarela was disqualified by Mettler earlier the week after he failed to produce evidence that he was rehabilitated.
Makwarela’s attorneys have since sent a letter to Mettler, saying that Makwarela’s “rehabilitation was finalised long before he was elected mayor”. His attorneys demanded that Mettler withdraw his March 7 letter to the IEC.
They further demanded that Mettler “issue a statement to the media that [he] erred in [his] allegation that our client cannot produce proof of his rehabilitation”. Unless Mettler provided an unconditional apology, Makwarela’s attorneys threatened to take further legal action.
“You are to comply with this demand, and deliver proof of your compliance to our offices before the close of business on Thursday, 9 March 2023, failing to do so our client will proceed with a High Court Application for an order prohibiting you from continuing with your unlawful allegations about, and actions against our client.“
The drama started on February 28 when Makwarela was unexpectedly elected as Tshwane mayor instead of the ruling multi-party coalition led by the DA’s preferred candidate, Cilliers Brink.
Although Makwarela, who is a Cope member, was ostensibly a member of the coalition he was voted in thanks to votes by the opposition ANC and EFF as well as alleged “traitor” ActionSA council members.
CATCH UP: One week later – and not Tshwane mayor anymore
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