Pretoria - Former City of Joburg mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse has labelled the ANC in Joburg as the “undisputed champions of corruption” ahead of her legal battle in the South Gauteng High Court, challenging her removal.
Phalatse lodged an application early this month in which she challenged it on legal grounds, arguing that a vote of no confidence against her was made in “haste” by speaker Colleen Makhubele – just a few days after she was elected to the position with the support of the ANC and other parties.
Makhubele was part of the DA-led coalition government, but broke ranks afer the removal of the then council speaker Vasco da Gama last month.
Yesterday, Phalatse, in a virtual address, repeated scathing attacks on the Joburg ANC led by the new mayor, Dada Morero, despite threats of legal action against her.
She also ruled out the possibility of her party forming a coalition government with the ANC, saying the past few weeks in the City of Johannesburg had been turbulent, a far cry from the stability residents deserve and yearn for.
“In the wake of this instability, parties in the recently ousted Joburg multiparty government have been considering what it would take to restore order and resume the all-important task of repairing and rebuilding the city.
“Of concern is the notion that a coalition with the ANC in its current form could provide this atmosphere for growth, when all we’ve seen in the last 28 years under its rule has been the complete opposite.
“The idea of bringing stability by entering into a coalition with the ANC is not a new idea.
“However, the notion is flawed for several reasons – the most obvious being that the ANC is entirely corrupt.
“Recently, I stated precisely this: the ANC is corrupt. This was met with an empty threat by an ANC hack who demanded I retract within 48 hours or face a lawsuit. This was absurd. First, you can’t be sued for telling the truth. Moreover, individuals can be defamed, but you can’t defame a political party.”
Phalatse said what was most interesting was that instead of her being faced with an avalanche of ANC trolls supporting the ridiculous demand that she apologise, there was a huge groundswell of support for her statement, saying “it was repeated, thousands of times over, by people from all parties and all walks of life: the ANC is corrupt”.
“But let’s say we do the unconscionable and overlook the ANC’s corruption and enter into a coalition with them, what would be the outcome? A stable coalition?
“Perhaps. But I assure you, when it comes to carrying out corrupt activities under the radar, they are the undisputed champions.
“There would likely be the odd brave whistle-blower or two, and believe me, I am very grateful for each and every whistle-blower.”
Phalatse reiterated that she was removed by an “unlawful coup”, saying the ANC has allegedly wasted no time in preparing to resume their corruption and shield their agents from investigation. “People previously dismissed for maladministration and worse have been re-appointed.”
At the time of publication, Joburg ANC spokesperson Chris Vondo had not responded to a request to react to Phalatse.
Pretoria News