Court dismisses challenge to eThekwini city manager appointment

THE Pietermaritzburg High Court has dismissed an application that sought to challenge the appointment of Musa Mbhele as the city manager for the eThekwini Municipality.

- THAMI MAGUBANE

But this fight is not over and is likely headed to the Constitutional Court. The application had been brought by Bheki Mabaso, and the judgment was handed down last week. In the court papers, Mabaso was listed as a principal clerk employed by the municipality and had brought the application on the basis that, as an employee of the municipality, he had an interest in whether Mbhele was lawfully appointed.

It was not clear yesterday whether Mabaso was still employed by the city. This battle to unseat the city manager has been ongoing for the past few months.The municipality was listed in the court papers as the first respondent, and Mbhele was listed as the second respondent.