Former ActionSA councillors take party to court over alleged unfair dismissal

ActionSA in the city of Johannesburg has dismissed reports of mistreating eight former councillors.

This comes as these alleged former councillors from have initiated court proceedings against their party after being abruptly removed from their positions for alleged non-performance.

These councillors are set to challenge their removal at the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, with the hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Speaking on behalf of all aged members, Elmari Atterbury, who is also the group's alleged legal representative said their dismissal was public as they were removed from their positions while sitting in council in September.

"We received notice that we have been removed as councillors on the 29th of September, while we were sitting in council over underperformance.

This was questionable because we do not know where this stems from," she said. Atterbury said while the party continues to maintain their position against them, they are satisfied with their work ethic, having achieved every target the party had set for them. Atterbury indicated that the controversy over their removal erupted when the councillors received notification of their removal while they were sitting in council on September 29.

The targeted councillors argue that they have consistently met the performance criteria outlined by ActionSA, notably the requirement to sign up 200 new members as set by the Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC). Atterbury explained, “Getting 200 members in the suburban area is very difficult,” highlighting the challenges faced in community engagement.

Atterbury says the main criteria set for the councillors was 200 membership resolutions that were taken by the Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).

"Councillors were sent a letter by the regional chairperson stating that they are underperforming and have not signed up 200 members yet. Currently, their positions remain vacant as the councillors pursue legal reinstatement," she said.

This situation ignites broader conversations around fairness and due process within political organisations, with Atterbury emphasising that the matter goes beyond personal grievances. “This is about fairness and respect for due process,” she asserted, noting that ActionSA had ignored cease and desist letters requesting that any replacement processes be halted until the dispute was resolved.

On allegations that the matter has become personal, Attebury has argued that this is not the case but has to do with fairness and respect for due process.

“Two cease and desist letters were sent to Action SA, urging the partner to hold any replacement process until the dispute was resolved, but this was ignored, " she added. , ActionSA spokesperson Matthew George revealed that the party knows of only one applicant who has initiated court action against the party.

"ActionSA can confirm that only an application was filed by a single former councillor in the city of Johannesburg, and not eight as previously communicated. We must also clarify that there is no matter set to be heard on Tuesday in the High Court. Contrary to claims in the media release, which also appears to misunderstand how the court system works. We are of the view that there is no basis for the urgent application and, more importantly, there is no legitimate claim by the former councillor, who was duly removed from her position," he said.