BusinessDay reports that Solidarity has withdrawn its legal challenge in which it accused the City of Johannesburg of gross abuse of state power after the trade union’s banner erected alongside the M1 near the Joburg city centre was removed.
Ahead of SA hosting the G20 summit, Solidarity had erected a large billboard with the words “Welcome to the most race-regulated country in the world”. The metro removed the banner last week, saying the union had not sought prior approval for the display and had contravened municipal outdoor advertising bylaws. Solidarity’s opposed application was set to be heard by the South Gauteng High Court on Tuesday. But, advocate Reinard Michau, representing Solidarity, informed the court of the removal of the application after the parties reached an agreement. The only condition in the agreement was that Solidarity would remove the application from the roll and collect its banner “by close of business” on Tuesday.
During the hearing it was apparent the municipality and Solidarity did not entirely agree on the finer details of what would happen after collection. Advocate Khotso Ramolefe, representing the metro, said: “The respondents [municipality and JMPD] do not expect or anticipate that the applicant would proceed to try and put the banner up in the absence of approval from the municipality.” Michau, however, did not confirm this.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sinesipho Schrieber at BusinessDay (subscriber access only)
- Lees ook, Metro moet reusebanier teruggee ná skikking, by Maroela Media
- Read Solidarity’s press statement at Solidarity News
Get other news reports at the SA LabourNews home page