CoJ says it will continue providing protection for councillors who feel unsafe
The Johannesburg High Court recently declared unlawful the city’s council decision to award the mayor ten bodyguards.
The newly-elected Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg is Dada Morero. City of Joburg
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality said it will continue to protect councillors who feel unsafe.
The Johannesburg High Court recently declared the city’s council decision to award the mayor 10 bodyguards unlawful.
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The court judgment has attracted attention to the large amount of money the city spends on protecting its elected representatives.
Speaking on the sidelines of a South African Communist Party (SACP) event in Soweto on Monday, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero said some councillors require protection to execute their duties.
“MMCs should also be able to go to events which might turn out to be volatile. Whether it’s a protest or a public meeting that can get heated, we have a responsibility as a government to ensure as they execute their tasks, they are at least given some assurance of their safety. All our ward councillors, majority of those in the townships, do get affected, especially in the last two years with the Eskom issue and electricity.”