Nadeco loses battle for seats
01 Feb 2009
Nadeco has lost its lengthy legal battle to retain the seats of 18 former councillors who resigned during the floor-crossing period.

The Constitutional Court turned down a request by the party to appeal against a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. The Appeal Court had ruled against the decision by the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which had decided that the 18 Nadeco councillors had illegally crossed to other parties.

Many of the councillors who resigned were to join the South African Democratic Congress (Sadeco), a breakaway party formed by one of Nadeco’s former leaders, Dr Ziba Jiyane.

Jiyane welcomed the decision by the not to hear the appeal. He said Nadceco had desperately sought to hold onto the seats that the party had won under his leadership. “The Constitutional Court closes this protracted, futile and costly legal exercise,” Jiyane said.

Nadeco leader, Dr Hawu Mbatha said his party accepted and respected the decision by the Constitutional Court.