The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) lodged a complaint with the Public Protector (PP) against the Speaker of the Tshwane Metro Council, Mncedi Ndzwanana.
The step was taken in an effort to ensure accountability after he was once again accused of undermining democratic processes in the Metro.
The complaint follows the urgent court application currently before the Gauteng Division of the High Court regarding the suspension of the City Manager, Johann Mettler.
The Freedom Front Plus endorses the legal proceedings, but believes that a parallel process involving the PP is necessary to investigate possible political interference and the conduct of individual councillors.
The complaint is directed against Speaker Ndzwanana as well as the councillors who supported the decision against Mettler. The Freedom Front Plus wants every councillor involved in the decision to be held personally accountable.
Furthermore, the Freedom Front Plus will, in terms of section 32 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), seek to recover any financial losses or legal costs from the relevant councillors’ personal assets.
In 2023, the High Court found that Ndzwanana had acted irrationally and beyond his powers when he repeatedly disallowed motions of no confidence. At the time, the Court ruled that his conduct had compromised the impartiality of his office and undermined the Council’s institutional integrity.
The current court application arises from the special council meeting held on 9 July 2026. According to court documents, the Council initially voted 95 to 92 against suspending Mettler. After the result was announced, the Speaker allegedly retrospectively excluded the votes of 13 opposition councillors, thereby altering the outcome.
Neither municipal legislation nor the Council’s standing rules afford the Speaker the power to revise a finalised vote.
In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, these allegations, if found to be true by the Court, reveal a concerning pattern.
The party will keep a close eye on the matter to ensure that democratic processes and the rule of law are upheld.
