The Makana Independent New Deal no longer exists, according to founder Jock McConnachie.
The Makana Independent New Deal no longer exists, according to founder Jock McConnachie.
Established two years ago to contest the 2011 local government elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has sealed the Makana-based party's fate by de-registering it.
This follows a protracted battle within Mind, centred on the role of its sole councillor Devon Waldick.
Most recently, the party unsuccessfully sought legal action to have him withdrawn as their proportional representation (PR) councillor.
In a media statement this week, McConnachie said the party's demise was the result of Makana’s Acting Municipal Manager Thembinkosi Myalato's failure to declare a vacancy in its PR seat.
McConnachie said this should have been done after the party expelled Waldick in November. His expulsion followed his alleged lack of accountability to the party.
McConnachie said the Municipal Structures Act stated that after an expulsion, a vacancy of the seat occupied by the expelled Councillor must be declared by the Municipal Manager.
At a Special General Meeting on 12 January, the IEC took a resolution to de-register Mind should that vacancy not be declared by 31 January 2013.
Mind, McConnachie said in his statement, had repeatedly asked Myalato to declare such a vacancy.
They had even tried to obtain a court order compelling the Municipal Manager to declare the vacancy, but could not afford legal representation, he said.
Mind’s de-registration means that their Proportional Representation seat will remain vacant for the next three years – the remainder of the term of office of the current Makana Council.
