Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip and the offices of the provincial premier and speaker yesterday settled their differences out of court.
This after Trollip challenged his suspension and fine in the Grahamstown High Court.
The actual terms of the settlement remained secret yesterday, but Trollip hinted in a press statement that more would be revealed next Tuesday when the provincial legislature sits in Burgersdorp as part of taking the “legislature to the people”.
The statement said it could not divulge the contents of the agreement but Trollip would be invited to the legislature sitting in Burgersdorp.
“This matter will be raised as the second point of order at the commencement of the special sitting of the legislature, where will read a public statement and a decision will be made regarding the current sanction against ,” said the statement.
The legislature’s ethics committee last week fined Trollip a month’s salary and suspended him from the legislature for 14 days after finding him guilty of bringing the institution into disrepute. The committee found Trollip had failed to apologise for implying that premier Phumulo Masualle was a “liar and cheat”, something Trollip denied he had ever done.
Trollip said gross irregularities characterised the manner in which the ethics committee handled his subsequent hearing and he was never afforded a reasonable opportunity to prepare for it.
He also said the unfair suspension and fine had severely embarrassed him and dented his dignity and credibility as a political leader.
He had asked the court to suspend the decision to fine and suspend him pending the outcome of his court application to have the decision reviewed and set aside in its entirety.
Trollip said he had become so stressed he had resorted to medical intervention. His family had also been deeply affected by his unlawful suspension and the national press reports that followed.
“This has had a serious effect on my home and family life which is simply not to be tolerated and which is inexcusable.”
Trollip had claimed that questions he submitted to the legislature on the transfer of hundreds of thousands of rands of provincial government funds into Masualle’s personal account had been edited and “sanitised” to deflect attention from Masualle.
Masualle then complained to legislature Speaker Noxolo Kiviet that Trollip’s comments implied he was “a liar and cheat” and demanded Trollip apologise.
Trollip said there had been no intention to malign him and refused to give an unconditional apology.
Deputy speaker Bulelwa Tunyiswa, who last week informed him of his suspension and fine in the legislature, also chaired the ethics committee which found him guilty.
Trollip said it was clear the decision to suspend him was taken prior to his hearing.
Trollip’s attorney Brin Brody on Wednesday warned that his client would, down the line, “consider recourse against those who have flouted parliamentary rules and protocols”.
Trollip said yesterday’s agreement promised to settle the impasse that had arisen out of his suspension and imposition of a fine.
Brody would only confirm that the matter had been postponed indefinitely.
Trollip drops Bhisho ban court action
This after Trollip challenged his suspension and fine in the Grahamstown High Court.
The actual terms of the settlement remained secret yesterday, but Trollip hinted in a press statement that more would be revealed next Tuesday when the provincial legislature sits in Burgersdorp as part of taking the “legislature to the people”.
The statement said it could not divulge the contents of the agreement but Trollip would be invited to the legislature sitting in Burgersdorp.
“This matter will be raised as the second point of order at the commencement of the special sitting of the legislature, where will read a public statement and a decision will be made regarding the current sanction against ,” said the statement.
The legislature’s ethics committee last week fined Trollip a month’s salary and suspended him from the legislature for 14 days after finding him guilty of bringing the institution into disrepute. The committee found Trollip had failed to apologise for implying that premier Phumulo Masualle was a “liar and cheat”, something Trollip denied he had ever done.
Trollip said gross irregularities characterised the manner in which the ethics committee handled his subsequent hearing and he was never afforded a reasonable opportunity to prepare for it.
He also said the unfair suspension and fine had severely embarrassed him and dented his dignity and credibility as a political leader.
He had asked the court to suspend the decision to fine and suspend him pending the outcome of his court application to have the decision reviewed and set aside in its entirety.
Trollip said he had become so stressed he had resorted to medical intervention. His family had also been deeply affected by his unlawful suspension and the national press reports that followed.
“This has had a serious effect on my home and family life which is simply not to be tolerated and which is inexcusable.”
Trollip had claimed that questions he submitted to the legislature on the transfer of hundreds of thousands of rands of provincial government funds into Masualle’s personal account had been edited and “sanitised” to deflect attention from Masualle.
Masualle then complained to legislature Speaker Noxolo Kiviet that Trollip’s comments implied he was “a liar and cheat” and demanded Trollip apologise.
Trollip said there had been no intention to malign him and refused to give an unconditional apology.
Deputy speaker Bulelwa Tunyiswa, who last week informed him of his suspension and fine in the legislature, also chaired the ethics committee which found him guilty.
Trollip said it was clear the decision to suspend him was taken prior to his hearing.
Trollip’s attorney Brin Brody on Wednesday warned that his client would, down the line, “consider recourse against those who have flouted parliamentary rules and protocols”.
Trollip said yesterday’s agreement promised to settle the impasse that had arisen out of his suspension and imposition of a fine.
Brody would only confirm that the matter had been postponed indefinitely.
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