The Pretoria High Court reinstated Tshwane City Manager Johan Mettler on 31 July 2026, overturning his suspension by the Tshwane Council earlier that month after finding the Speaker acted beyond their authority in manipulating the outcome of the council vote.

Court Ruling And Procedural Irregularities

Mettler was suspended by the Tshwane Council on 9 July 2026 following a closed vote prompted by a complaint from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), with councillors voting to place him on full pay leave pending an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct, according to the City of Tshwane and Eyewitness News. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and trade union Solidarity challenged this decision, alleging the Speaker manipulated the voting process.

In its judgment, the Pretoria High Court held that the Speaker “did not have the authority to determine a councillor’s eligibility to vote or to subtract the votes that were indeed cast in the execution of those affected councillors’ mandates and duties,” as stated by Judge AJ Pillay. The court found the subtraction of votes during the process to be prima facie unlawful, suspended the resolution, and interdicted the council from enforcing the suspension. DA Mayor Cilliers Brink, speaking after the ruling, accused the Speaker of deliberately overturning valid votes to ensure Mettler’s removal.

Political Context And Next Steps

The events have heightened political tensions within the Tshwane Council, reflecting ongoing contestation between the EFF, DA, and other parties over governance standards in the metro. The DA argued that Mettler’s removal was designed to sideline a manager resisting corruption, while the EFF’s initial complaint set the process in motion. The court’s intervention reinforces the obligation of councils to adhere to proper procedures and respect limits on the Speaker’s powers during votes.

With his reinstatement, Mettler will resume duties while the independent investigation into the original misconduct allegations proceeds. Further legal and political repercussions related to the Speaker’s conduct and the contested vote are expected in the coming weeks.