The SA Local Government Association (Salga) on Sunday said it would set up a legal advice centre to assist municipalities and councillors on the new defection legislation.
Salga’s national executive committee met over the weekend in Pretoria where it discussed issues impacting on local government and also received reports on World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Salga representative Sipho Mbele said in a statement that Salga would also engage the national government with a view to ensure legal certainty in respect of those councillors who had already indicated an intention to cross the floor.
Several MPs, poised to cross the floor to other parties, were thrown into confusion last week when the Cape High Court granted the United Democratic Movement an interdict against the defection legislation.
The UDM, which believes the floor-crossing legislation is unconstitutional, has made an application to the Constitutional Court.
”Salga will do everything in its power, including approaching the courts for relief, to assist and protect those councillors that are now facing the possibility of losing their seats as a result of the suspension of the legislation.”
On the Constitutional Court case, Mbele said Salga would join the case as a friend of the court.
”This means that Salga will not take sides but will raise an independent matter asking the courts to issue an order and protect the councillors.
”We will provide the courts with the names of all councillors affected,” he said. – Sapa