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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Eugene Johnson's last-ditch effort to avoid a motion of no-confidence being tabled against her has failed in the City's High Court.
On Tuesday afternoon, the High Court in Gqeberha dismissed her urgent application, with costs, to interdict a scheduled council meeting from going ahead on Wednesday.
Motions of no-confidence are now set to be tabled against Mayor Johnson, deputy mayor Buyelwa Mafaya and Council chief whip Wandisile Jikeka - who are all part of the embattled ANC-led administration in the Metro.
While there were 11 respondents cited in the court papers, only the Democratic Alliance opposed Mayor Johnson's application in court.
DA chief whip Leander Kruger told the media that the High Court ruling was a victory for the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay.
"The motion that was brought to halt Wednesday's council meeting was frivolous by the executive mayor and it was self-serving. There will now be motions of no confidence tabled in the executive mayor and ultimately its a win for the people of this Metro because the democratic processes have been upheld by the court," said Kruger.
ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom, who will move the motions of no-confidence, said he was confident that the ANC-led administration would now be unseated.
"It is justice for the city of Nelson Mandela Bay and we have been waiting for a long time," he said.
"Service delivery has not been taking place at all, our city is a mess and we have an executive mayor that is doing nothing. On Wednesday we are looking forward to unseating the ANC. I am glad that the ACDP will move a motion that will remove Eugene Johnson from power," added Grootboom.
Freedom Front Plus councillor Bill Harrington, who seconded the motion, said the party was delighted that the judge had looked at the merits of the case and had ruled that there was no urgency in the matter.
"The FF Plus is glad that the outcome of Tuesday's court ruling emphasizes that democracy and the right to vote prevails. Wednesday is a new day, and I believe that it will bring in a new government for our city."
At the time of publication, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality communications department said it had not yet been informed of Wednesday's council meeting as per its administrative processes.
