Hardy Mills is the lawyer representing the ANC and COPE in Plettenberg Bay in the matter of the DA not allowing the Opposition to calling a Special Meeting so that they, as a majority, can take over the Bitou Municipality.

It is appreciated that he has kept the media informed the past week. He sent this brief message earlier today:

Judge Gamble postponed the matter till 29 July 2014 for hearing.

He said that because the court is currently in recess (meaning there’s only two judges available) till the 25th, the 29th will be the first suitable date.

He found that the matter is urgent enough to be heard in three weeks’ time, but not so urgent to justify a hearing before.

Our council’s pleas that the municipality is in limbo, no meetings, will of the majority, etc. did not convince him to have it heard sooner.

The opposition asked that the matter be heard in the normal run of the semi-urgent roll, being September, but fortunately that was also not entertained by the Judge.

So it is 29 July 2014 then.

The change of judges has obviously not being a good thing for the citizens of Bitou as this means a 3-week delay. It’s disappointing that the judge has so little concern for the fate of a town. It would seem to give the DA an advantage as they now have more time to persuade COPE’s national leadership to get rid of Adam van Rhyner, their local politician who has switched his swing vote from the DA to the ANC.

Here’s some weekend reading for those who’ve kept a strong eye on this political mess:

• ANC & COPE’s counter application and affidavit
• Supplementary Affidavit (in response to Memory Booysen’s media comments)