SASOLBURG – The DA has come out guns blazing after a damning High Court ruling exposed how the Metsimaholo Local Municipality (MLM) unlawfully fired its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

According to a DA councillor in the embattled municipality, Thulani Mbana, their party demands full transparency and holds the council accountable for what it labels reckless, politically-driven decision making that has now backfired.

During a special council meeting on November 27, the Municipal Manager shocked councillors with news that the Bloemfontein High Court had dismissed the municipality’s leave to appeal.

Mbana said the ruling comes after the municipality was already found guilty months ago of unlawfully dismissing the CFO.

The ruling includes hefty cost orders to be paid jointly and severally, meaning several councillors could personally feel the financial burn.

According to Mbana, the council rushed through the CFO’s suspension and contract termination despite repeated warnings.

“All the major parties, including three smaller parties, voted in favour of this unlawful termination of the CFO’s contract. The DA’s former mayor was removed for refusing to implement illegal instructions from the council, and this judgment further vindicated the DA’s principles of good governance,” he said.

Mbana said the Municipal Manager revealed that the municipality will now await further legal advice on what to do next, a move the DA fears could push the legal bill even higher.

“This judgment should serve as a lesson that councils are not law unto themselves and all actions have consequences, even for councillors who think they are immune to legal repercussions,” added Mbana.

The DA has vowed to submit written questions to the Municipal Manager and Speaker, demanding a full breakdown of legal costs and clarity on what action will follow to recover fruitless and wasteful expenditure.