Cape Town – The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment on whether the expulsion of ANC Cape Town councillor Andile Lili was unfair, the Cape Times reported on Thursday.

Lili reportedly approached the court this week claiming his expulsion in March was used to settle a political score.

He was also challenging the constitutionality of a section of the Municipal Systems Act that gave local government MEC Anton Bredell the power to expel councillors.

His legal team reportedly argued the provision violated the principle of municipal autonomy.

His sacking came after a multiparty disciplinary committee found him guilty of taking part in the illegal demolition of houses and for making derogatory comments to Khayelitsha residents.

On Wednesday, Bredell’s lawyer reportedly argued that the expulsion could not have been a “political stitch-up” because the disciplinary committee had come to a unanimous decision, and two members of his own political party had been on the committee.

According to the report, Lili was also expected to appear before the ANC disciplinary committee on 24 August for an unrelated issue – his role in the recent sanitation protests in the city.

– SAPA