The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) demands that the Tshwane Metro’s Mayoral Committee Member for Environment and Agriculture, Obakeng Ramabodu, be held personally liable for the legal costs incurred by the Metro with its appeal application against AfriForum’s successful court case regarding the Metro’s controversial cleaning charge.
As political head of the Department, Ramabodu was the one who instructed the Metro to appeal the court ruling on the unlawful cleaning charge even though the appeal had no merit.
On Monday, the High Court dismissed the application for leave to appeal and imposed punitive costs on the Metro.
This ruling serves as overwhelming proof that the decision to appeal was reckless and incompetent.
In a previous ruling on 31 July, the court declared the implementation of the additional cleaning charge illegal and set it aside.
The Metro had imposed a general charge to force residents who do not use municipal refuse removal services to pay R194 per month. The funds were supposedly earmarked for maintaining landfills and cleaning streets.
Tshwane Metro taxpayers are not a cash cow to be milked by incompetent politicians. It is unacceptable that millions in tax money are squandered to try and justify a blatantly unlawful charge.
The Freedom Front Plus wants to make it very clear: Obakeng Ramabodu should not try to hide behind the Metro. He should be held personally liable for the losses and legal fees stemming from his decision.
The Freedom Front Plus will support all political and legal actions aimed at ensuring individuals who waste taxpayers’ money are personally called to account.
