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The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
PICTURES: Colourful Hillbrow parade entertains Joburg residents
PICTURES: Colourful Hillbrow parade entertains Joburg residents Performers took to the streets in Hillbrow over the weekend wearing colourful and creative costumes to honour community. Members of the City of Pantsula group getting ready at the Windybrow Arts Centre before the Hillbrow Street Parade on May 24, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Dancers, musicians, and community members come together to celebrate creativity, resilience, and local organisations. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) This year's Hillbrow Street Parade theme was 'Hey Hillbrow! Let's Dlala!' (where dlala means 'play' in isiZulu), and featured hundreds of performers taking to the city streets to celebrate through public performances. Performers getting ready at the Windybrow Arts Centre before the Hillbrow Street Parade, 24 May 2025, in Johannesburg. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) A view of Hillbrow from the Windybrow Arts Centre. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) Patricia Hlogwane from JAM putting on makeup before the parade. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) Performers prepare for the Hillbrow street parade. Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK Performers prepare. Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK Nkosilathi Ndebele (8) looks out a window while getting ready before the parade. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) Performers prepare behind the scenes before the parade. Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK Leon Chimedza (10) adjusts his costume. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) Performers and community members take part in the Hillbrow Street Parade. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) People watch the Hillbrow Street Parade. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) Performers and community members take part in the Hillbrow Street Parade. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK PICTURES: Durban takes part in Hindu firewalking festival
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
DA's ‘poor' appeal on cadre deployment dismissed as ANC welcomes ruling
The ANC has accused the DA of abusing the courts to score 'cheap political points'. Entrance of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Picture: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius The Democratic Alliance (DA) has faced another setback in its efforts to have cadre deployment declared unconstitutional. On Wednesday, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria dismissed the DA's application for leave to appeal a previous ruling that favoured the African National Congress (ANC). The DA had lodged the appeal in February last year after the court ruled that political influence on government decisions was not the same as unconstitutional interference. The court held that it is not unlawful for a political party to shape government policy or influence senior appointments in the public sector, as long as the public service isn't misused for party politics. Court dismisses DA's appeal on cadre deployment Delivering the latest ruling, Gauteng Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba concluded that there was no likelihood of a different outcome should another court hear the matter. 'This case, far from the DA's contentions, does not raise questions of constitutional law that are of considerable public importance,' he said. Ledwaba rejected the DA's claim that the earlier judgment conflicted with another legal precedent, which found that appointments influenced by political considerations were unlawful. ALSO READ: DA legal challenge to Employment Equity sparks political divide He found that the two matters were not comparable. 'There is no need to regurgitate ten bases upon which the two cases are distinguishable. 'The upshot is that the DA failed to demonstrate compelling reasons for granting leave,' the judge continued. He further said the merits of DA's appeal were 'poor'. 'The application for leave to appeal is dismissed,' the judgment reads. The DA was also ordered to pay for the ANC's legal costs. Despite the loss, DA leader John Steenhuisen previously stated that the party would pursue the matter to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) if necessary. ANC welcomes the outcome The ANC has since reacted to the ruling. 'The high court's dismissal of the DA's attempt to appeal the ruling on the ANC's cadre deployment policy is yet another blow to the DA's obsession with pursuing narrow-minded political games at the expense of genuine democratic progress,' the party said in a statement. READ MORE: Affirmative-action measures must 'not go too far', argues DA in court 'The court found, once again, that the DA's case had no reasonable prospects of success, failed to identify any unconstitutional elements in the policy, and relied on speculative, unproven allegations.' The ANC went on to accuse the party of misusing the judiciary to score 'cheap political points'. The party suggested the DA should instead focus on contributing to substantive policy debates and practical solutions for the country. The ANC welcomes the judgment of the High Court in Pretoria, which dismissed with clarity and conviction the Democratic Alliance's DA application for leave to appeal a ruling on the ANC's cadre deployment policy. May 7, 2025 DA's cadre deployment records case The DA secured a separate legal win in its ongoing battle over cadre deployment. In February 2024, the ConCourt ruled in favour of the DA, compelling the ANC to release records from its deployment committee within five days. These records — dating back to 2013 — include meeting minutes, emails, and WhatsApp messages, and are now in the public domain. Although the ANC publicly released the documents, according to the DA, many were heavily redacted, and some were still missing. As a result, the DA asked the court to intervene for contempt of court. The ANC tried to appeal but lost, and the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria confirmed that the party was in contempt. NOW READ: ANC MPs tell Mbalula to ditch DA in hostile meeting
