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The highly-publicised spat between ANC and DA council members in the beleaguered Oudtshoorn municipality came to an astonishing conclusion in the Cape High Court this week.
Oudtshoorn municipal spokesman Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe revealed that Judge André le Grange found that the meeting of DA and Cope councillors, as well as five ANC councillors at a closed council meeting on May 31, was convened unlawfully.
"The judgment on Tuesday also states that all resolutions claimed to have been taken at the illegal meeting are unlawful and of no force and effect," Mangqwengqwe said.
"The speaker, mayor and deputy mayor are those persons who occupied these positions immediately prior to the illegal meeting."
In addition, the 11 DA councillors and the Cope councillor who attended the illegal meeting, as well as the five councillors who crossed the floor to the DA have to pay the costs.
The judgment will come as a telling blow to the DA, which recently took control of the municipality, already beset with political bickering over the passing of the 2013/14 budget.
