Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

The United Independent Front (UIF) has lost its bid for leave to appeal against a judgment in favour of New Vision Party (NVP) leader Ike Kekana.

The UIF had appealed against a judgment given on October 15 and allowing Kekana to return to the Limpopo legislature.

Kekana was dismissed from the legislature after the UIF had submitted a letter saying he was dismissed by the party in April last year.

The Pretoria high court said grounds for appeal had no prospect of success and was a ploy to prevent Kekana from taking up his seat in the legislature.

Acting Judge President AJ Ebersohn said he was of the view that Kekana was a member of the legislature on August 31 last year, and also a member of the UIF.

Kekana submitted the court order to the legislature on Friday. That meant that Kekana and his party will be paid retrospectively whatever is due to them from September 1 last year.

Kekana said yesterday the legislature was over enthusiastic to hire another person while he was challenging the matter in court.

"They brought in a new person to settle old scores," he said.

"They thought by pushing me out they had gotten rid of me. I thank God that the matter has been resolved.

Spokesmane for the Legislature Kenny Mathivha has confirmed that they had received papers from the high court.

"We will accept Kekana back and abide by the judgment," he said, " We'll also have to recoup our money from the UIF because the judgment means the UIF was being paid illegally."