Cape Town - The ANC and Patriotic Alliance (PA) have been sacked from running the Theewaterskloof Municipality, as a new coalition saw the DA and GOOD Party appointing their members to top leadership roles on Thursday.
DA councillor Lincoln de Bruyn was elected as the new executive mayor following a successful motion of no confidence against previous office-bearers Mary Liebenberg of the PA and Derick Appel of the ANC.
The two were removed from their respective positions as mayor and speaker of the council on Wednesday.
De Bruyn was appointed with 14 votes in favour during a council sitting yesterday. Liebenberg garnered 11 votes, and two council members did not cast ballots for a mayor.
Further appointments saw the GOOD Party’s John Michels being elected speaker of the council after receiving 15 votes, while Appel received 12.
The municipality described their appointments as a step in the right direction.
“Their leadership will be crucial as we navigate this period of transition and continue to serve the people of Theewaterskloof,” the municipality said.
The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) will assume the municipal public accounts committee chairperson role.
The DA, the GOOD Party and the SRWP declared their “happiness” at the formation of the new coalition for the Theewaterskloof Municipality.
In a joint statement, the parties said residents can find faith in an administration that cares and puts their needs first.
“Under this new coalition, residents can look forward to improved service delivery and can be assured that the municipality will secure stability in council, avoid fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and appropriately allocate funds,” the statement said.
The ANC in the Western Cape, however, expressed its disappointment with the developments in the Theewaterskloof Municipality.
Provincial spokesperson Khalid Sayed said the changes will cause unnecessary divisions within the community and bring more political instability to the municipality.
“The ANC believes that the Government of National Unity (GNU) nationally has created a spirit of unity in diversity, inclusivity and social cohesion that should be replicated in which all our parties should work together to bring better services to our people,” he said.
Sayed said what happened in the Theewaterskloof arena was driven by self-interest and factional politics in the “DA led by Helen Zille and Tertuis Simmers”.
“She wanted a grand coalition between the DA and ANC, only without any of the other opposition parties participating, which the ANC refused,” Sayed claimed.
The PA will also now focus on being part of an effective opposition, according to its national spokesperson, Steve Motale.
All eyes will now be on the position of deputy mayor, who will be elected today.
byron.lukas@inl.co.za