The Northern Cape High Court has postponed a declaratory order matter involving the Northern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) and the Sol Plaatje Municipality, with a new date to be announced.
The legal proceedings stem from an application by CoGHSTA MEC Bentley Vass, who approached the court seeking to nullify a virtual special council meeting held in April. In response, the Sol Plaatje Municipality filed a counter application challenging the constitutional validity of Section 139(1)(a) and (b) of the Constitution, which governs provincial intervention in municipal affairs.
The municipality was placed under provincial administration in early May 2026 following repeated collapsed council meetings and concerns that the council was failing to meet its constitutional obligations. A new administrator was subsequently appointed to restore stability to the municipality’s operations.
However, the intervention has sparked tension within local government structures. Members affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) have embarked on an unprotected strike in objection to the Section 139 administration. The industrial action has severely disrupted essential services, with refuse collection in the city halted for three consecutive weeks.
Union representatives have voiced strong opposition to the provincial takeover, arguing that the process undermines local democratic structures. Meanwhile, municipal officials and the provincial department await the court’s eventual ruling on the legality of both the April council meeting and the constitutional provisions underpinning the administration order.
The matter remains pending before the Northern Cape High Court.
