The public gallery in the Port Elizabeth high court was packed on Thursday morning as the DA’s legal team argued against the legality of an August 27 council meeting. Advocate Olav Harald Ronaasen told acting judge Johann Huisamen that the meeting was unconstitutional. "For a meeting to be properly constituted‚ it means everyone must be given notice. The applicants did not receive notice of the meeting that took place later that day‚" Ronaasen said. Huiseman said it was possible the consequences of the applicants walking out had resulted in what happened next. Ronaasen said that municipal manager Johann Mettler said the council meeting was not quorate, and had it reconvened for September 3. The advocate stated that the MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Fikile Xasa, interfered in matters of council by sending the second respondent‚ Jenny Roestorff‚ to preside over the election of the speaker. "The fourth respondent was available. The first respondent needed to a...
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