/ 15 August 2013

Court reserves judgment in ex-ANC councillor’s expulsion case

Graphic solution: The University of Pretoria’s Kerstin Tönsing believes the use of pictures to aid reading ­benefits learning-impaired children in particular.
Graphic solution: The University of Pretoria’s Kerstin Tönsing believes the use of pictures to aid reading ­benefits learning-impaired children in particular.

Andile Lili reportedly approached the court this week, claiming his expulsion in March was used to settle a political score.

He was also challenging the constitutionality of a section of the Municipal Systems Act that gave the Western Cape local government minister Anton Bredell the power to expel councillors.

His legal team reportedly argued the provision violated the principle of municipal autonomy.

His sacking came after a multiparty disciplinary committee found him guilty of taking part in the illegal demolition of houses and for making derogatory comments to Khayelitsha residents.

On Wednesday, Bredell's lawyer reportedly argued that the expulsion could not have been a "political stitch-up" because the disciplinary committee had come to a unanimous decision, and two members of his own political party had been on the committee.

Dumping faeces
According to the report, Lili was also expected to appear before the ANC disciplinary committee on August 24 for his role in the recent sanitation protests in the city.

Lili and ANC councillor Loyosi Nkohla dumped the contents of five portable toilets at the provincial legislature in June. 

He was arrested along with 183 other protesters and the case was postponed to October for further investigation. &dnash; Sapa