THE troubled Oudtshoorn local municipality has once again been engulfed in chaos, with the African National Congress (ANC) regaining power two months after the Democratic Alliance (DA) wrested control of the council.
But the town has been gripped by confusion as both the ANC and the DA claim to be in charge.
The municipality was placed under administration months ago in a bid to improve its functions, including financial management.
Following a council meeting at the weekend, however, it emerged that a motion of no confidence had been passed against mayor Wessie van der Westhuizen, of the DA.
A new ANC mayor, deputy mayor and speaker were elected, but the DA said this was another illegal takeover by the governing party.
The ANC pushed through the vote of no confidence with the help of its alliance partner, the Independent Civic Organisation of SA (Icosa), former partner the National People’s Party (NPP) and DA councillor Jurie Harmse, who shocked many by siding with the ANC.
The DA said it was considering taking disciplinary action against Mr Harmse, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
The council has 25 seats, of which the DA holds 12, while the ANC has 10. Icosa, the NPP and the Congress of the People all have a seat each.
Municipal manager Gavin Juthe said the meeting that led to the power shift was "constituted and proceeded lawfully by a majority of councillors".
"I have ... informed the former executive mayor, the speaker and his executive mayoral committee about the change of leadership and requested them to vacate offices accordingly," Mr Juthe said.
DA provincial leader Patricia de Lille said on Tuesday the takeover was illegal.
She said DA councillors in Oudtshoorn had filed complaints of assault against law enforcement agents and members of a private security firm who allegedly forcibly threw the party’s officials out of the municipal building on Monday night.
"The ANC’s attempt ... to surreptitiously try to take control of the council is a flagrant disregard for democracy. These actions are nothing more than hooliganism. The ANC in Oudtshoorn’s absolute disregard for the rule of law is staggering. They have become a law unto themselves," Ms de Lille said.
The DA was in the process of obtaining legal advice and would soon announce the way forward, she said.
"In the interim, we will continue to work together with the provincial and national administration teams to repair service delivery and good financial management in Oudtshoorn," she said.
ANC Western Cape provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said: "When the DA took over earlier this year, we respected democracy. Now we have taken over, we expect them to respect democracy.
"The DA councillor voted with us because we have service delivery at heart ... the ANC is not interested in party political games."
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille. Picture: SUNDAY TIMES
THE troubled Oudtshoorn local municipality has once again been engulfed in chaos, with the African National Congress (ANC) regaining power two months after the Democratic Alliance (DA) wrested control of the council.
But the town has been gripped by confusion as both the ANC and the DA claim to be in charge.
The municipality was placed under administration months ago in a bid to improve its functions, including financial management.
Following a council meeting at the weekend, however, it emerged that a motion of no confidence had been passed against mayor Wessie van der Westhuizen, of the DA.
A new ANC mayor, deputy mayor and speaker were elected, but the DA said this was another illegal takeover by the governing party.
The ANC pushed through the vote of no confidence with the help of its alliance partner, the Independent Civic Organisation of SA (Icosa), former partner the National People’s Party (NPP) and DA councillor Jurie Harmse, who shocked many by siding with the ANC.
The DA said it was considering taking disciplinary action against Mr Harmse, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
The council has 25 seats, of which the DA holds 12, while the ANC has 10. Icosa, the NPP and the Congress of the People all have a seat each.
Municipal manager Gavin Juthe said the meeting that led to the power shift was "constituted and proceeded lawfully by a majority of councillors".
"I have ... informed the former executive mayor, the speaker and his executive mayoral committee about the change of leadership and requested them to vacate offices accordingly," Mr Juthe said.
DA provincial leader Patricia de Lille said on Tuesday the takeover was illegal.
She said DA councillors in Oudtshoorn had filed complaints of assault against law enforcement agents and members of a private security firm who allegedly forcibly threw the party’s officials out of the municipal building on Monday night.
"The ANC’s attempt ... to surreptitiously try to take control of the council is a flagrant disregard for democracy. These actions are nothing more than hooliganism. The ANC in Oudtshoorn’s absolute disregard for the rule of law is staggering. They have become a law unto themselves," Ms de Lille said.
The DA was in the process of obtaining legal advice and would soon announce the way forward, she said.
"In the interim, we will continue to work together with the provincial and national administration teams to repair service delivery and good financial management in Oudtshoorn," she said.
ANC Western Cape provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said: "When the DA took over earlier this year, we respected democracy. Now we have taken over, we expect them to respect democracy.
"The DA councillor voted with us because we have service delivery at heart ... the ANC is not interested in party political games."
