CoJ consulting legal team following VIP protection policy ruling
The policy provided the mayor with 10 bodyguards and 6 blue light vehicles, while the speaker was allocated 8 protectors and 5 cars.
A City of Joburg council meeting on 21 August 2024. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Joburg is consulting with its legal team regarding the Johannesburg High Court's ruling, which declared its VIP protection policy invalid and unconstitutional.
On Thursday, the court ruled the city's decision to increase the security detail for the mayor, council speaker, and other officials was not adequately justified.
The policy provided the mayor with ten bodyguards and six blue light vehicles, while the Speaker was allocated eight protectors and five cars.
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The court found the city failed to secure a comprehensive risk assessment from the South African Police Service to justify why it was necessary to enhance their security.
Joburg mayoral spokesperson, Chris Vondo, said the city would announce its next move once it had fully assessed the judgment.
"The city is currently studying the judgment with the intention of implementing it as best as possible. And of course, the city is undertaking the internal and external consultations that all the issues raised in the judgment are attended to. And I'm sure you have observed the attitude of the leadership towards respecting the court's decision, at least since the executive Mayor Dada Morero came in."