Podcasts about phalatse

Mayor Dada Morero has been elected as the 11th mayor of Joburg and this after a small stinit that he had when Dr Phalatse was removed and s the question remains; what can we expect form our new mayor and Dr Sysman Motloung joins us to unpck this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joburg Speaker Colleen Makhubele is seeking legal advice on the role former Mayor Mpho Phalatse and two senior DA members played in the appointment of former Gauteng Hawks boss Shadrack Sibiya, as head of the City's Anti-Corruption Unit. Makhubele has accused Phalatse, former Speaker of Council Vasco da Gama and DA Councilor Leah Knott of failing to report the appointment of Sibiya to Council and the Hawks. Sibiya was fired in 2015 following a disciplinary inquiry into his alleged role in the rendition of Zimbabwean men in 2010. In 2020, the Labour Court found his dismissal was procedurally and substantially unfair. Makhubele has accused Phalatse's administration of using the City's Anti-Corruption Unit to deal with political opponents and victimize senior officials. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Phalatse

This afternoon, the two candidates for federal leader of the Democratic Alliance, John Steenhuisen, the incumbent, and his challenger Mpho Phalatse delivered their final leadership contest speeches at the party's congress currently underway. TimesLIVE contributor and analyst, Eusebius McKaiser, watched the two speeches closely and, drawing on his experiences as a past World Masters Debate Champion and adjudicator of competitive debating and public speaking shows, analysed their performances. Steenhuisen, with his wealth of political experience compared to Phalatse's, chose to focus on a very positive framing of what the DA had already achieved, and what it can and will achieve next year, i.e driving the ANC below 50% share of the national vote. He alluded to the importance of experience, in an apparent dig at his opponent, by referencing his membership of the party that goes back to 1997, quite apart from many positions he had occupied over the years, including ten years as a DA councilor. He showed awareness of and implicitly conceded that the DA needs to communicate more effectively with voters. To that end, based on research showing what matters to voters currently, he listed many thematic areas that he would focus on as leader if he was reelected, including energy insecurity, crime, unemployment, cadre deployment, improving the quality of our bureaucracy, and devolving more power to provincial and local governments. What was most striking for McKaiser, however, was the overall tone and energy of the speech. It was positive, forward-looking, solutions-focused, and aiming at party cohesion rather than divisive critique in the public sphere. Phalatse's speech was, argues McKaiser, perhaps more substantive in its self-examination of what the party had done wrong. She spent some time, by way of example, detailing the very serious trust deficit that the DA faces. She regaled the congress with anecdotes of people she had met everywhere who wondered whether or not the DA could be trusted. In contrast to the polling data cited by Steenhuisen, she suggested that if elections were held tomorrow, the DA may well only get 16% share of the vote, even if the ANC's numbers also plummeted The implication is that nothing short of a very fresh and new offering to voters is needed to get them to vote for the ANC. It would be a mistake, she says, to only focus on the base of the party. McKaiser argues that, to that extent, Phalatse's speech sounded more like political analysis than someone understanding the game of politics. It was insufficiently positive and perhaps too introspective, given that voting delegates need to feel fired up about and positive towards a candidate they are asked to back. While some segments of the party might agree with Phalatse's speech in its essence, it may be hard to avoid the conclusion that Steenhuisen is the better politician between them. For the full analysis of their speeches, and to hear the speeches for yourself, click on the audio link to this latest edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE.

In this edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE, the podcast host engaged former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse on her ambition to become the next DA leader. She argued the current leadership is not best placed to lead the party into the 2024 national and provincial elections. Phalatse insists the leadership, John Steenhuisen included, do not connect with voters in rural areas or townships. This is one reason she wants to be part of a new offering to voters. When pressed on whether she has sufficient backing within the party, Phalatse said she has “been approached” by many people in the party who share her view about the leadership and who agitated for her to run for the top position. McKaiser asked her whether she would agree Steenhuisen is “an excellent leader” to which she responded, while Steenhuisen has done his best, he is not excellent and does not connect with “the masses”. Phalatse argued that even among white voters there are those who question whether he is the best person for the job. The party needs to be more introspective and less defensive, she argues. When asked about her vision for the country, Phalatse conceded she did not yet have a manifesto but added if she were to become DA leader she would argue for the party to get better feedback from communities about what their policies ought to be. McKaiser ended the discussion by asking Phalatse to respond to claims she is ill-disciplined and not a team player, such as her open criticism of the DA's federal leadership structure. She insisted “exposing blind spots” doesn't mean she is not a team player. Produced by Bulelani Nonyukela.

The Johannesburg city council elected Thapelo Amad as mayor on Friday after the ousting of Mpho Phalatse. Phalatse was removed from office on Thursday in a motion of no confidence.

The Democratic Alliance leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga has accused ActionSA of a wanting to initiate a reverse take over of the Johannesburg Metro council. This follows what appears to be a breakdown in relations between the two parties as Mpho Phalatse was ousted as mayor yesterday. Al Jama Ah's Thapelo Amad, ActionSA's Fundzi Ngobeni and Phalatse have since been nominated for the position of Executive Mayor in today's council sitting. Voting is expected to commence soon. Earlier in the day however, our colleague Mbalenhle Mthethwa caught up with Msimang and asked him to respond to allegations that the DA national leadership was sabotaging Phalatse over her possible future threat and challenge to current leader, John Steenhuisen...Msimang had this to say...  

In what could be her last address as City of Johannesburg (CoJ) mayor, since she faces a vote of no confidence, Mpho Phalatse has announced City Power's ‘Sustainable Energy Strategy', which it has published with the aim of attracting funding, to help reduce the severity of loadshedding in the city. She says the city has been on a path towards reducing its reliance on Eskom in earnest since May last year, following the Joburg Energy Indaba. City Power has since put out requests for proposals for short-term power purchase agreements to secure energy from independent power producers (IPPs) for up to 36 months. The first round of tenders went out in November last year, with the closing date being February 10. Additionally, City Power is undergoing an approval process for Ministerial determination to procure power on a longer-term basis from IPPs. City Power seeks to secure additional capacity from diversified energy sources, including solar, gas, battery storage, waste-to-energy and gas-to-power projects. Phalatse says the CoJ is ultimately working towards procuring an additional 500 MW of electricity, which could offset up to five stages of loadshedding. The short-term objectives of the ‘Sustainable Energy Strategy' has an estimated cost requirement of R401-million, to avert up to Stage 3 loadshedding, since Stage 2 and 3 loadshedding is likely to continue for at least the next 18 months. Particularly, Phalatse says, for R20-million, the city can recommission its two existing open-cycle gas turbine stations, which could produce 74 MW of power; however, this will require the city to procure and burn diesel. The CoJ already has 1.2-million litres of diesel on hand for these sites. Further, at R85-milion, City Power can use ripple relay systems to remotely regulate high-energy use products such as geysers, swimming pool motors and the like, which could save 80 MW, but only when absolutely necessary, Phalatse points out. For the city to produce and distribute smart meters and a communication system to enable City Power to limit the amount of power distributed to homes, it will need R203-million. Phalatse explains that, instead of completely turning off the power, the city can supply homes with enough energy to power essential needs. This could save an additional 322 MW, when needed and not on a whim, and with the necessary communication to customers. For City Power to better monitor, control and optimise its transmission system, it requires R120-million. “Unfortunately, the CoJ does not have R401-million lying around that can be easily shifted to this strategy. We are, therefore, exploring the establishment of an infrastructure fund and we will be approaching development finance institutions, the private sector and provincial and national governments to fund this project, where we will leverage our status as the economic hub of the country,” Phalatse states. City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava confirms that, if the entity were to get the money immediately, it would take up to six months to get this mitigation plan active, given that much of the infrastructure is already in place. Phalatse notes that, despite the threat of her possibly being removed from office again, the ‘Sustainable Energy Strategy' is not about politics, but a legacy project to ensure Johannesburg can continue to operate, and more sustainably at that. She says the city has been losing customers and revenue owing to customers going semi- or completely off-grid. Between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, City Power experienced losses of 386 GWh, resulting in a net revenue loss of about R284-million. The entity has also incurred costs of about R155-million, owing to overtime as a result of loadshedding, and R35-million in insurance costs. This translates to a total loss of R474-million in the period under review. Moreover, City Power also incurs losses owing to vandalism and theft, having spent R200-million on 390 mini substations between July 1, 2021, and November 11,...

Three motions of no confidence have been filed by minority opposition parties to remove Johannesburg Mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse. Phalatse was reinstated after the Patriotic Alliance left the DA-led multiparty coalition in the City of Johannesburg in September last year and went on to vote for a motion that removed her as City mayor. But during the same month, the high court in Johannesburg found that Phalatse's removal was unlawful and invalid. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the Spokesperson for the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mabine Seabi

Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse has called motions of no confidence to remove herself and members of the mayoral committee a "desperate attempt. without substance". The two motions were withdrawn in council on Thursday, the second day of its ninth ordinary sitting. Two other members of the Democratic Alliance-led coalition were also facing motions of no confidence – the chair of the Section 79 committee for gender, youth and the disabled, DA councillor Nakita Dellwaria, and the chairperson of the environment, infrastructure and service delivery Section 79 committee, ActionSA councillor Lerato Ngobeni. These were also scrapped. Phalatse said those submitting the motions had "no confidence in their own abilities to garner enough support" to remove her or other executive members. "A reading of the two motions makes it clear that the desperate attempts and campaign to remove the Multi-Party Government are without substance. "What we are dealing with is a political operation aimed at gaining power and access to the City's bank account by any means possible – all at the expense of residents," she said. "If indeed there was a case for me to answer for, matters of substance that speak to service delivery, governance and the rule of law would have been put forward, but these were never put forward." Phalatse also called for council to "seriously consider the rules around motions of no confidence". "It cannot be that these motions are tabled on a monthly basis, thus interrupting the business of the administration and council, and affecting the focus and morale of officials; and in some extreme instances, service delivery takes a hit," she said. "Our focus as the Multi-Party Government is on ensuring that quality services are delivered to all six-million residents and that we work with and for residents in the repair and rebuild of Joburg until our electoral term in office reaches its natural conclusion in 2026."

Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse will face a second vote of no confidence in less than two months. The latest vote of no confidence in Phalatse will take place next week after the programming committee heard two requests for motions of no confidence in the mayor on Monday. The committee is headed by the council speaker and meets to discuss and set down the agenda of council meetings. The City of Johannesburg council will meet on 23 and 24 November for an ordinary sitting. The no-confidence motion will be heard on one of the two days. According to a source within the committee, members discussed two votes of no confidence at the meeting. The minority opposition parties brought one. At a briefing last week, the parties said they were concerned about what they called a "financial crisis" within the City. They indicated that they would be requesting a motion of no confidence in Phalatse. It is still unclear which party brought the second request for a no-confidence vote. There was also a request for a motion of no confidence in Johannesburg speaker Colleen Makhubele. The programming committee rejected this as a similar request was currently before the Section 79 Rules Committee. The City of Johannesburg has 270 council members. For a motion to pass, it needs 136 votes or more. Last week, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said the party would vote in defence of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg until the African National Congress (ANC) agreed to back the EFF in Ekurhuleni. This came after the ANC and EFF disagreed on who should govern in Ekurhuleni after Tania Campbell was axed in a motion of no confidence last month. Campbell, a DA leader, was reinstated following a vote in the council because of this disagreement between the EFF and the ANC. The EFF has 29 councillors in Johannesburg, and if they were to back the DA, it would likely give the DA-led coalition the majority needed to keep Phalatse in power.

Minority parties in the City of Johannesburg will bring another motion of no confidence against City Mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse. In a press briefing In Braamfontein yesterday, the minority parties within the ANC-led coalition said Phalatse is not the right person to lead the City. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Councillor Lubabalo Magwentshu, chairperson of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) in the City of Johannesburg

Recent political events in coalition-run municipalities have cast doubt on the viability of such governments. A prime example is Johannesburg, whose mayor Mpho Phalatse and speaker Vasco da Gama were removed last month after no-confidence motions. Phalatse was ousted by an ANC-led coalition that included the EFF and Patriotic Alliance (PA).  Sunday Times Politics Weekly hosts the mayor, who has since been reinstated and says she still believes in coalitions, but that the ANC bloc is focused on corruption. On the possibility of being voted out again, Phalatse says anything is possible in politics, but tough as it may be, she is not bowing out of it.

Recent political events in coalition-run municipalities have cast doubt on the viability of such governments. A prime example is Johannesburg, whose mayor Mpho Phalatse and speaker Vasco da Gama were removed last month after no-confidence motions. Phalatse was ousted by an ANC-led coalition that included the EFF and Patriotic Alliance (PA).  Sunday Times Politics Weekly hosts the mayor, who has since been reinstated and says she still believes in coalitions, but that the ANC bloc is focused on corruption. On the possibility of being voted out again, Phalatse says anything is possible in politics, but tough as it may be, she is not bowing out of it.

Recent political events in coalition-run municipalities have cast doubt on the viability of such governments. A prime example is Johannesburg, whose mayor Mpho Phalatse and speaker Vasco da Gama were removed last month after no-confidence motions. Phalatse was ousted by an ANC-led coalition that included the EFF and Patriotic Alliance (PA).  Sunday Times Politics Weekly hosts the mayor, who has since been reinstated and says she still believes in coalitions, but that the ANC bloc is focused on corruption. On the possibility of being voted out again, Phalatse says anything is possible in politics, but tough as it may be, she is not bowing out of it.

The High Court in Johannesburg has declared Dr Mpho Phalatse as the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg. Phalatse was ousted as the city's mayor during a motion of no confidence vote last month. The ANC's Dada Morero was subsequently elected as mayor. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Phalatse on what her victory means for the city moving forward.

The High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that the removal of former City of Johannesburg Mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse and the subsequent election of current Mayor, Dada Morero was unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid. Phalatse had approached the court arguing that the Programming Committee that met on the 29th of September to decide on the Agenda of the Extraordinary council meeting of the next day where she was ousted - did not form a quorum. She further argued that the decision by the same committee to place the motion of no confidence vote on the agenda was therefore unlawful. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC reporter Tshepo Phagane and Political Analyst, Dr Ongama Mtimka

  Clement speaks to former executive mayor in the City of Joburg, Mpho Phalatse on the DA's executive rejecting her proposal for the party to work with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to regain control of the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The DA's Joburg leader Dr Mpho Phalatse has gone from medic to politician and from leading the opposition in SA's biggest city to becoming its Mayor - and then being controversially deposed after an ally with 8 seats in the 270 seat Council switched sides. In this frank interview with Alec Hogg of BizNews, the reluctant politician explains why she is now fighting tooth and nail to prevent a return of the 'corrupt' ANC to its old ways, but fears the plundering of Joburg has already started. Phalatse unpacks events of a turbulent year and explains that she's still working behind the scenes to get back the Mayoral chains. In the process, she also provides insights into the kind of challenges SA is likely to face after the 2024 National Election when political coalitions will become the norm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Die DA-leier in Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse, sê die Johannesburgse Eiendomsmaatskappy het na bewering 27 miljoen Suid-Afrikaanse rand betaal aan 'n maatskappy wat met die ANC verbind word. Die maatskappy was vir twee maande geregistreer toe dit verlede maand die betaling ontvang het. Phalatse het vandag by die Hillbrow-polisiestasie 'n strafregtelike klagte teen die eiendomsmaatskappy gelê. Sy sê hulle het uit 'n betroubare bron verneem dat 'n deel van die geld gebruik sou word om die koalisie-regering in Johannesburg te ontwrig.

The Gauteng High Court is set to hear the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) case on overturning, what the party calls the “unlawful City of Johannesburg council meeting”, on October 18. As submitted to the High Court, the DA wants ousted City of Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse, along with the executives of the City, to continue in office. Phalatse was removed as the mayor of Johannesburg in a special sitting and replaced with African National Congress (ANC) councillor Dada Morero. Last week Phalatse launched a court bid to overturn her removal as Johannesburg mayor. “The Council events of that day saw the laws of the country and Rules of Council thrown to one side, in a desperate grab at power by a corrupt cabal whose only goal is to control and corrupt the City's R77.3-billion budget,” Phalatse stated. She said this was not about the positions that members hold or once held, but rather was about the rule of law. “Whether we go back into government is one issue, but our removal from Government and the preceding events were illegal. And, therefore, as legislators who swore to obey, respect and uphold the Constitution and all other laws of the Republic of South Africa, it would be wrong of us to simply ‘let this go' on that basis alone,” Phalatse added. The DA wants the High Court to declare the decision of the Programming Committee of Council taken on September 29 to place a motion of no confidence in Phalatse on the agenda for the Extraordinary Council Meeting on September 30, as unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid. The party also wants the High Court to declare the decision by Speaker Colleen Makhubela on September 29, to schedule an Extraordinary Meeting of Council for September 30 as unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid. The DA is seeking a cost order and a personal cost order on Makhubele. Phalatse warned that service delivery would collapse under the “illegally installed government”. “We have been informed that the illegitimate ANC-administration has issued a directive that all the City's Entity Boards be replaced in order to appoint their own people to continue facilitating their looting and corruption. We are concerned about what will happen to the Entities and service delivery through this move, hence we will put pressure on the courts to reinstate the legitimate government for our residents,” she explained. She highlighted that the events leading up to the September 30th removal of the Multi-Party Government were a political hit not just on the law, but also on the work the party was doing to stop corruption and advance a pragmatic service delivery programme that was already showing results.

Die afgesette DA-burgemeester van Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse, beskryf haar verwydering as 'n onwettige staatsgreep en 'n siniese sameswering om die vordering wat die veelparty-koalisieregering sedert Januarie gemaak het, te vertraag. Sy het 'n aansoek by die Gautengse Hooggeregshof in Johannesburg ingedien in 'n poging om die raad se besluit om te keer wat haar verwyder en ANC-raadslid Dada Morero in haar plek aangestel het. Phalatse sê sy is verwyder om die ANC toegang te gee tot die begroting van 77,7 miljard Suid-Afrikaanse rand sodat hulle korrupsie kan voortgaan.

Mpho Phalatse het beloof om haar stryd voort te sit om haar posisie as Johannesburgse burgemeester te behou. Sy het die onlangse raadsitting waarop Dada Morero as nuwe burgemeester verkies is, as 'n staatsgreep beskryf en sê dit was 'n komplot om die ANC weer aan bewind te bring. Die DA het 'n hofuitdaging van stapel gestuur om die sitting onwettig te laat verklaar. Phalatse sê Morero se verkiesing is verraad teenoor die kiesers.

The now former mayor of Joburg, Dr Mpho Phalatse, wants her job back and she's turning to the courts to try and snatch back the reins from what she calls the ANC's “coalition of corruption”. She was ousted in a motion of no confidence last week in a process she'll be challenging through the courts. BizNews correspondent Michael Appel spoke to the DA's deputy caucus leader in Johannesburg, Bongani Nkomo, to unpack Phalatse's ousting in a "coup", the looming court case, the crisis within the multi-party coalition, and the ongoing public spat with ActionSA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a briefing to outline her plan to save the City of Johannesburg, former mayor Mpho Phalatse said her administration had previously warned that the ANC would not willingly give up on its “biggest cash cow” — the city's R77.7bn budget. Phalatse, who was ousted last week, said the decision to remove her was unlawful and this would be proved in court. 

Ousted City of Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse said on Wednesday she and her party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), were confident the Gauteng High Court will declare last week's council meeting in whch she was ousted a mayor irregular and unlawful. Phalatse was removed as the mayor of Johannesburg in a special sitting and replaced with African National Congress (ANC) councillor Dada Morero. On Monday, Phalatse launched a court bid to overturn her removal as Johannesburg mayor. The matter will be heard on October 11. “I will continue to fight with and for the people of Johannesburg, and the next round of that fight is our court application to have last Friday's sham council sitting declared unlawful. The sitting, rushed through by the new Speaker Colleen Makhubele, in order to vote me out of office before a court could stop her, was irregular and unlawful and we are confident that the court ruling will confirm this,” she said. She said this fight was not hers but that it was for the people of Johannesburg and added that the DA needs to fight on principle. Briefing the media, Phalatse introduced herself as Johannesburg's Mayor - despite the council having appointed Morero. “I introduced myself as Johannesburg's Mayor because I believe that sitting was a sham, and the decisions taken there unlawful. I believe a court will soon confirm this view. As far as I'm concerned, I still have a duty of service to the residents of Johannesburg - a duty which I intend to perform to the best of my ability,” she said. She stated that she would not back down at the hands of a takeover by a corrupt few. She asserted that she would keep the promises she made to the residents of Johannesburg before last year's elections, and when she took office in January. Phalatse went on to say that the recent events in the Johannesburg Council have dealt a major blow to the progress the DA made in the City since the beginning of the year. “Turning Johannesburg around after decades of corruption and mismanagement was never going to be quick or easy, but I am proud to say that our coalition government has made great strides in a very short time,” she said. She cited the R2.8-billion invested in the city's water infrastructure, a 157% increase in the arrest of cable thieves, and the 1 800 new JMPD officers deployed in the inner city. However, she said all the successes were brought to a halt last week when the ANC was let back into office. The DA will ask the court to set aside all decisions taken by Morero since his appointment. “And then I want to get back to work, because every day wasted on these cynical plots and schemes is a day we could have spent fixing something in this broken city. We have so much to do and we really cannot afford this distraction,” she said. RIFT IN THE PARTY Phalatse dispelled speculation that there was a rift in the party and affirmed that she had the full backing of the DA and its national leadership. “And we have always remained united in our mission, which is to offer Johannesburg's 6-million residents a government that truly cares for them. Our work here, to bring dignity to Johannesburg's vulnerable and neglected communities, and to restore this city to its rightful place as this continent's beating economic heart, has only just begun,” she added. She highlighted that it was a pity that some who have abandoned the multi-party coalition have now given power back to the ANC. She called on coalition partners to reconsider. “They have shown that a vote for parties that let us down is actually a vote for the ANC. I will not allow the coalition of corruption to simply waltz back in and undo everything we've accomplished here,” said Phalatse.

The African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg said the Democratic Alliance (DA) and ousted Johannesburg City Mayor Mpho Phalatse were desperately trying to hang on to power. On Monday the DA and Phalatse submitted papers at the Gauteng High Court to try to reverse Phalatse's removal from office and the election of Dada Morero as the new mayor. ANC Johannesburg secretary Sasabona Manganye said the latest moves by the DA and Phalatse confirm their “arrogance and anti-democratic tendencies” that had led to a failed multi-party government in Johannesburg. “We have taken note of papers submitted to the Speaker of Council Colleen Makhubele and the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg and are confident that both the Speaker and Mayor will successfully defend the matter and not be distracted from the immediate tasks that require their attention, that being serving the residents of Johannesburg,” said Manganye.

Mpho Phalatse, wat met 'n mosie van wantroue verwyder is as burgemeester van Johannesburg, het dokumente by die hooggeregshof ingedien om verlede week se spesiale raadsvergadering onwettig te laat verklaar. Sy sê hulle sal nie bystaan terwyl die ANC en sy bondgenote van korrupte middele gebruik maak om die mag te bekom nie. Phalatse sê die mense van die stad het die ANC uitgestem vir 'n beter keuse.

Former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse has asked the High Court to set aside decisions taken by Dada Morero in the interest of justice because he was unlawfully appointed as the new mayor. Phalatse said council Speaker Colleen Makhubele had an ulterior political motive when she "unlawfully" called for an extraordinary council sitting which saw her being removed as mayor. The former mayor and the Democratic Alliance (DA) argued in court papers, filed at the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, that Makhubele wanted to help her political allies and disregarded councillors when she approved Friday's special council sitting. The court application was filed on Monday. The DA wants the following declared unlawful and unconstitutional: the programming meeting held on 29 September, which rubber-stamped the extraordinary sitting; the council sitting held on 30 September; Phalatse's removal and Morero's election as the new mayor for Johannesburg. In an affidavit, Phalaatse conceded Makhubele had the powers to call a special sitting, but took issue with the importance of the matter to be discussed which was the motion of no confidence against her. Phalatse said despite these powers and council rules did not specify the notice that must be issued for the sitting, councillors were supposed to be allowed at least three days to prepare for the meeting and ensure they could attend. The DA Johannesburg leader added if less than three days were required for the sitting, Makhubele should have justified the urgency for the motion to be debated. She said the decision was unlawful because it violated the Municipal Structures Act. "The notice, in this case, met neither of the requirements. Councillors were only given 20 hours' notice that there would be a council meeting. And at best, 16 hours that a motion of no confidence would be debated. "The urgency was entirely unjustified. The motion of no confidence in me had been pending against me for more than two months. Nothing had happened to suddenly make it so urgent less than a day's notice should be given to moving the motion," Phalatse said. She added Makhubele had political motives in fast-tracking her removal to achieve a political advantage for herself and her allies. "I am advised that it is contrary to the principles of legality to act for an ulterior purpose not permitted by an empowering provision. That is what Colleen Makhubele has done. Her decision must be set aside for that reason." Phalatse argued the council meeting was illegal because the programming committee that approved it did not quorate because the DA and other political parties had walked out. Another argument for the former mayor was the special sitting was unlawful because DA councillors present were not allowed to speak, Makhubele denied the DA a caucus break, and the motion of no confidence was not debated. Phalatse said the court should treat the case with urgency for herself and the residents of Johannesburg. She also asked the court to set aside and review any decisions Morero had taken while in office. "My removal as mayor was an abuse of power. Should I return to the office, I should not return to be faced with decisions taken by an unlawfully appointed mayor. It is in the interest of justice to set aside all these decisions," Phalatse argued. The case will be heard next Tuesday.

The ANC in Gauteng is eyeing the city of Tshwane and Ekhuruleni after ousting the DA's Joburg mayor, Dr. Mpho Phalatse last week. The party together with seven others replaced Phalatse with the ANC's Dada Morero in a vote of no confidence on Friday. The DA says they will challenge Phalatse's removal in court. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Bongani Nkomo, DA Deputy Caucus Leader in the City of Johannesburg

ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson Bongani Baloyi has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of destabilising the coalition in the City of Johannesburg “in the interest of power and position”. ActionSA briefed the media following the collapse of the multi-party government in the municipality. The Democratic Alliance's (DA's) Mpho Phalatse was voted out as City of Johannesburg mayor in a motion of no-confidence against her last week. The African National Congress's Dada Morero was voted in as the new mayor. Baloyi announced that there is no coalition arrangement in the City of Johannesburg moving forward and added that his party has accepted the “new reality” that they are now an opposition party. He promised that ActionSA will be a formidable opposition by ensuring that a budget approved is affected and by holding the executive accountable. “We are going to do our part. We have decided to place the residents ahead of everything else and ensure that they will get the services that they need,” Baloyi stated. ActionSA wished former mayor Phalatse well and added that despite her removal she was a great leader of the now disbanded coalition. “We are not there subserving into the will and the whim of the DA and to help it govern. No one won, there is no majority party there. All of us are the same. It's important that the coalition appreciates theses dynamics and also acts in the best interest of stabilising our coalition by making sure that the members' participation is deepened and that you don't have the same party occupying the key leadership positions, that being the speaker, the chief whip and the executive mayor,” said Baloyi.

Die leier van die DA in Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse, verwerp plasings op sosiale media wat daarop sinspeel daar is 'n wig tussen haar en die party. Dit volg nadat sy uit die pos as burgemeester verwyder is nadat ʼn mosie van wantroue suksesvol teen haar ter tafel gelê is. Phalatse beskou die gebeure tydens verlede week se raadsvergadering as onwettig en strydig met prosedures.

Dada Morero is the new mayor of the city of Johannesburg- this follows the ousting of the former mayor, Mpho Phalatse. She was voted out by 139 votes in the 270-seat council - through a motion of no-confidence. Phalatse insists that the meeting was unlawful. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance Leader, John Steenhuisen says Action SA's Herman Mashaba is hellbent on destroying the coalition governments. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Action SA's Gauteng provincial chairperson, Bongani Baloyi, and Political analyst, Sandile Swana... 

Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse has reiterated that she will complete her term in office despite attempts by opposition parties to remove her. Newly elected Speaker of the City of Johannesburg Council Colleen Makhubele has convened a council meeting for this morning, where a motion of no confidence against Dr. Phalatse will be tabled. Several parties in the council have accused her of being unfit to govern the city. Elvis Presslin spoke to Deputy President of the Patriotic Alliance Mr. Kenny Kunene and then got an analysis with Public Policy Specialist at Wits Schools of Governance, Dr. Kagiso Pooe

The African National Congress's (ANC's) Dada Morero is the City of Johannesburg's new mayor-elect after the ousting of Mpho Phalatse. Morero stood unopposed. Today's developments come after a tumultuous period in which the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) Vasco da Gama was voted out as speaker of the Johannesburg council. On Thursday, new speaker Colleen Makhubele of Cope called a special sitting of council for today, just days after being elected. Phalatse was voted out as mayor in a motion of no-confidence this afternoon. Of the 145 councillors who signed the register, 139 voted to pass the motion. The Inkatha Freedom Party, and a member of the DA-led coalition abstained. This happened whilst the DA was in the High Court seeking an urgent interdict against the meeting.

Die burgemeester van Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse, is vol vertroue dat haar posisie nie in gevaar is nie. Sy het die Hooggeregshof se uitspraak verwelkom wat die spesiale sitting van die raad waarin 'n mosie van wantroue teen haar ingedien sou word, ongeldig verklaar het. Die hof sê Colleen Makhubele is kragtens die toepaslike wetgewing nie by magte om 'n kennisgewing vir 'n raadsvergadering uit te reik nie. Phalatse sê sy vrees nie enige van die pogings om haar te laat verwyder nie:

There will be no extraordinary sitting of the Johannesburg council on Tuesday, after Gauteng High Court Judge Gcina Malindi ruled that chair of chairs, councillor Colleen Makhubele, was not acting speaker and thus could not call the meeting. In a ruling late on Monday night, Malindi declared the meeting invalid and ordered Makhubele to pay the costs of the court application. Makhubele, who had appointed herself speaker last week, scheduled a special sitting outside of the ordinary sitting set to take place at the end of the month. The special sitting was to elect a speaker after Vasco da Gama was ousted at the beginning of the month in a motion of no confidence. Parties within the multi-government coalition had expressed their intention of calling for a motion of no confidence in City of Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse. The motion was expected to take place at the next sitting of the council. If the judge had ruled in favour of Makhubele, the motion of no confidence would likely have occurred. In a statement on Tuesday following the court ruling, Phalatse said that while it was never desirable to ventilate these matters in court, "we had no choice but to approach the courts to rule on this matter, as common sense and a commitment to democratic process did not prevail". She condemned Makhubele's actions, which she said only sought to "create confusion in the minds of residents and undermine the laws of the country and the Rules of Council, all in an effort to grab power at all costs". "Now that the court has pronounced on what was clear to many of us, we appeal to our political opponents to cease and desist from destructive and self-serving political games.Now that this chapter is closed, we will await notice from the acting city manager Mr Bryne Maduka for a sitting of council to duly elect a speaker. Equally, in the interim, this will give the acting secretary to council Madimetsa Molekwa the space and time to run the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the City's legislature," she said. She said while the City could not get back the time it had lost in court, "we can find solace in the fact that the monies spent fighting an attempted coup of corruption will be returned to the City's coffers . and they will be directed towards their rightful function – the delivery of services". Makhubele broke rank with her political party Cope when she voted to oust Da Gama. She is the only Cope representative in the coalition. An internal investigation into the matter by the party is under way. "The idea is to buy time and delay the meeting. That's why the city manager has not called for a meeting to sit [but they can call for a sitting within] 72 hours," Makhubele told Radio 702 last week. Cope distanced itself from her actions and apologised to its voters. In court, Makhubele relied on Rule 19 A, which states that if the speaker is unable to do their duties, it falls to the chair of chairs to take over the role. But the city manager successfully argued for Act 41 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, which states that if the speaker of a municipal council is absent or not available to perform the functions of the speaker, or during a vacancy, the council must elect another councillor to act as speaker.

Die burgemeester van Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse, sê sy is nie bekommerd oor die dreigende mosie van wantroue teen haar nie. Sy glo sy word geteiken oor haar pogings om korrupsie in die stad uit te roei. Die ANC, gesteun deur ander opposisiepartye in die raad, vra vir die verwydering van Phalatse. Sy word daarvan beskuldig dat sy en die voormalige speaker, Vasco da Gama, saamgespan het om onder andere, verslae van bedrog teen die stad te verberg. Phalatse sê sy is nie ontsteld oor die beskuldigings nie:

Die burgemeester van die Stad Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse, sê die ANC is besig met 'n desperate en gekoördineerde poging om mag in die stad te gryp sonder om die inwoners in ag te neem. 'n Groep minderheidspartye in die Johannesburgse raad dreig om die burgemeester deur 'n mosie van wantroue te verwyder. Dieselfde minderheidsgroep het verlede week daarin geslaag om die raad se speaker, Vasco Da Gama, te verwyder. Phalatse se woordvoerder, Mabine Seabe, sê ten spyte van die politieke speletjies, sal dienslewering nie geraak word nie:

Verskeie opposisiepartye in die Stad Johannesburg het bevestig hulle gaan Woensdag 'n mosie van wantroue instel teen die stad se burgemeester, Mpho Phalatse. Die partye sluit in Cope, die PAC, die ATM, die AIC, Good en Al Jamah. Hulle beskuldig Phalatse daarvan dat sy met die voormalige speaker, Vasco da Gama, saamsweer om verslae te verswyg en sekere individue te beskerm. Al Jamah se Gautengse voorsitter, Thapelo Amad, sê Phalatse het versuim om die stad se inwoners te dien.

The City of Johannesburg says it plans to partner with independent power producers (IPPs) on a R26-billion electricity investment strategy, which is designed to end load-shedding and place City Power on a more financially and environmentally sustainable footing. The strategy involves a diversification of electricity sources away from Eskom, which currently provides the city with 90% of its power, while also securing City Power's revenue, which was currently threatened by grid defection, theft and the prospect of a “utility death spiral”. Executive Mayor Mpho Phalatse told participants at a two-day energy indaba that the city recognised that it did not have the funding to keep up with the required electricity investment, noting that its entire yearly infrastructure budget was R7.7-billion for power, water, roads and other municipals services. Private-public partnerships were “the most feasible way forward” and the city was, thus, planning to approach the market in the not-too-distant future in a bid to procure cleaner and cheaper electricity for its six-million residents. Phalatse said the legislative and regulatory frameworks presented no “fatal impediments to our plans”, as a municipality was allowed to procure its own electricity, while the Integrated Resource Plan catered for embedded generation. She also noted that generators below 100 MW in size were now allowed to proceed without first having to be licensed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. “Against this background, the City of Johannesburg is indeed entering the most exciting energy era in our history. “It is exciting because indications are that the city is positioning itself to become more energy independent, with less reliance on Eskom for our power needs,” Phalatse enthused. City Power chairperson Ambassador Douglas Gibson said the utility itself would seek to transform from a distributor of mostly Eskom electricity into an energy provider, able to supply reliable power in partnership with IPPs and “prosumers”. City Power's four imperatives currently, he added, were to provide reliable supply, make a profit, deliver on the council's strategy and to restructure the business so that it was both forward-looking and able to honour its environmental, social and governance obligations. “To achieve these imperatives, City Power . intends embarking on a journey to inboard alternative energy solutions into our grid systems, primarily through renewable energy technologies. “The aim is to enhance energy security and alleviate the enormous challenges of continuous energy interruptions,” Gibson explained. Acting City Power CEO Tshifularo Mavasha added that the utility was fully aware that an energy transition was under way “whether we like it or not”. “I recognise that our customers have started moving, they are already embracing the energy transition [and many] of our customers are installing solar photovoltaics on their rooftops. “Now here's the thing, at City Power we applaud our customers for doing that and we come here today to say we want to partner with our customers on that journey,” Mavasha said. Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Michael Sun said that the upcoming request for proposal (RFP) documentation would draw lessons from the indaba and promised that the procurement process would be conducted “honestly, transparently and in the best interests of our residents”. He provided no details on a possible timeframe for the release of the RFP, nor on what or how much electricity the city would be seeking to procure, however. South African Independent Power Producer Association chairperson Thomas Garner outlined a vision for the removal of the billing, tariff and infrastructure obstacles to investment by IPPs and to creating more sustainable and secure electricity supply in the city. Garner also urged City Power to shift its focus from electricity supplier to that of a grid and system operator and to overhaul the tariff structure in such a way a...

Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse has finalised her mayoral committee, with the DA only securing four seats on the 10-seat mayoral committee. Phalatse's executive committee was announced on Monday following weeks of coalition negotiations between the DA and other political parties. In an indication of how tough the negotiations were, the DA only managed to secure four seats. The remainder of the six mayco seats have been divided among other political parties, with ActionSA securing three seats. The ACDP, Freedom Front Plus and the IFP each secured one seat. The composition of the executive: Finance - Julie Suddaby (DA) Group Corporate and Shared Services - Leah Knott (DA) Transport - Funzela Ngobeni (ActionSA) Development Planning - Belinda Echeozonjoku (DA) Housing - Mlungisi Providence Mabaso (IFP) Economic Development - Nkuli Mbundu (ActionSA) Health and Social Development - Franco De Lange (FF+) Community Development - Ronald Winston Harris (ACDP) Environment and Infrastructure Service Delivery - Michael Sun (DA) Public Safety - David Thembe (ActionSA) Phalatse said this was a multi-party majority coalition government with 136 seats in the council, enough to pass legislation. In defending the decision to negotiate a coalition, Phalatse said all political parties involved had their interests, which influenced the direction of negotiations. Phalatse said the coalition was a 10-party agreement, but that not all political parties had been awarded positions. She said the city's council had over 10 chairperson positions, which were likely to be awarded to other political parties. Johannesburg is the latest hung metro finalised after Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell appointed her committee on 11 December. Tshwane remains the only metro in the province yet to finalise a coalition agreement.

During a special Council meeting on November 22, DA Councillor Phalatse Mpho was elected the City of Johannesburg's first female mayor. Mpho Moerane of the ANC received 121 votes, while Phalatse received 144 votes.

Metros across the country held their inaugural council meetings to elect their new mayors. This, as most municipalities will be serving through coalitions following the 2021 local government elections. The DA's Doctor Mpho Phalatse was elected the new Mayor of the City of Johannesburg yesterday. Phalatse's appointment marked the second major blow to the ANC, which also lost the City of Ekurhuleni, where the DA's Tania Campbell, beat the ANC's outgoing city mayor Mzwandile Masina. In Ethekwini, the inaugural council meeting was postponed after police had into interveen after a group of alleged ANC supporters disrupted the meeting. Jon Gericke spoke to SABC reporter Abongile Dumako

Die DA het 'n saamtrek in Johannesburg gehou in aanloop tot Maandag se verkiesing. Die party se burgemeesterskandidaat, Mpho Phalatse, het tydens die geleentheid gesê die stad is reg vir 'n verandering. Daar is ook planne aangekondig om dienslewering weer op koers te kry. Phalatse sê sy het onlangs verskeie gemeenskappe besoek om na inwoners te luister.

Mpho Phalatse is the DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg. Dr Phalatse joined Tim Modise to unpack the DA's plans for the city should they win the upcoming municipal elections. Phalatse told Modise that the DA did rule the city from 2017 to 2019, bringing change especially to queries with municipal billing.

Deep Soul Sensation Live at Deep Soul Cafe featuring Thabo Phalatse of #Ava Every Sunday streamed on Youtube from 2PM - 5PM Subscribe to our channel bit.ly/deepsoulsensationsunday Share and Enjoy with friends.

The late 18 year-old Ontlametse Phalatse, who lived with Progeria disease, lived an inspirational life. This is according to multitudes of people who turned out for her memorial service in Hebron, North West. Phalatse died last week at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria after complaining about breathing complications. She was due to attend president Jacob Zuma's birthday celebrations. Many people from all walks of life attended the memorial service at Mmamotshe Modutwane high school in Hebron. Maluti Obuseng report