Packed gallery sees ID back ANC
2006-03-23
SOME of them came early, some were a bit late: but there they were, 61 councillors for Drakenstein, some of them brand new and some of them already broken-in by politics.
The occasion was the special meeting on Thursday, held to elect office bearers for the new Council.
The gallery was packed with people eager to see friend and foe in the 61 hot seats.
Most councillors seemed at ease, idly making conversation while waiting for the meeting to start, but others - mostly the newcomers - tried hard not to look uncomfortable and self-conscious.
“The people have spoken! The people have chosen! The time has come for us to respond to their wishes and needs!” was the dramatic way in which Dr Sidima Kabanyane, himself very new in the position as Municipal Manager, opened the meeting.
He addressed the councillors: “The people put their trust in you when they elected you. You have now a golden opportunity to make them feel proud of you. The next five years are going to be very crucial years in your life.
“Allow me to caution you though, that there will be times when 434 will look like a big score to chase,” he added, referring to the milestone one-day cricket match between South Africa and Australia, played earlier that week.
“But if you embrace the determination and the spirit to succeed which was recently shown by Graeme Smith and his team, nothing will stand in your way when you want to deliver goods to our people.
“Lastly, I want to tell you that the staff of Drakenstein Municipality are looking forward to work with you to accelerate the delivery of basic services and the building of a better life for all the people of Drakenstein.”
He was followed by retiring mayor Herman Bailey who expressed the wish that the chosen leaders would look to the community’s needs and not their own desires.
At the request of the Municipal Manager, the councillors then introduced themselves to each other and the public.
The process went quietly, except for the negative reaction to some names, such as those of the Western Cape Community, from the gallery.
Then Deetlefs du Toit (DA), longtime jester of Council, introduced himself and added: “And for those of the ANC that don’t know me as yet, I promise you, you will!”
This broke the solemnity of the occasion and laughter and cat-calls erupted from the gallery.
Dr Kabanyane brought the meeting to order and tried to go on with the next matter at hand, the election of a Speaker.
However, the ID suddenly intervened by nominating one of its members as chief whip, although this item was only number 9 on the agenda.
This was followed by some confusion, after which it was agreed that the Speaker should first be elected, before changes to the agenda could be discussed.
Before the meeting could continue, Councillor Dawn Jacobs (WCC) requested time to caucus, supported by Arthob Petersen (ANC).
During the five minutes break, there was intense debate between members of the ID (Independent Democrats). Rumours that they had been ordered by party leader Patricia de Lille to vote in favour of the ANC, were by then rife.
Councillor Jacobs, who had initiated the time out, was seen deep in conversation with Councillor Esther Kearns (Federation of Democrats).
Back in their seats, three nominations were then put forward for the position of Speaker: Jean Smit (DA), Dawn Jacobs (WCC) and Sikhumbuzo Pele Mgajo (ANC).
Voting by secret ballot secured the position for Mgajo, who took the chair under loud applause from the gallery and his co-councillors.
By then it was clear that the ID had indeed thrown in its lot with the ANC.
This left the DA hopelessly outnumbered with only their own 20 votes and a possible five from the other smaller parties’s (WCC, ACDP, FD and Freedom Front+).
Two nominations were received for the position of Mayor: Koos Louw (DA) and Charmaine Manuel (ANC). A third nomination was not signed and could thus not be entertained.
With the secret ballot a mere formality, Councillor Manuel won the mayoralty 37-22, with two spoilt ballot papers. This means that of the smaller parties only two councillors supported the DA.
With much singing and dancing, Councillor Manuel donned the mayoral robes and chain.
“We come from an election where we fought a long and hard battle,” was her first official observation as mayor.
Then, on a lighter note she quoted a friend saying one could get foot-and-mouth disease, canvassing that hard.
Back to the present, she acknowledged that Councillors have different perspectives and ideologies.
“But we must succeed to work together.”
She said local government was a very challenging and daunting environment.
“The needs are great and demanding. We must also understand that resources are limited,” she said and added that there was a critical need for fresh thinking.
“It is important to fast-track delivery of services,” she said and concluded by saying that they should ensure clean government.
Hereafter Jaquelene Noland (ID) easily beat James Solomon (DA) to the post of deputy mayor (37-22), obviously in recognition for her party’s support of the ANC.
Joseph Appollis of the ID was designated chief whip, after which the meeting was adjourned.
The election of representatives to the Cape Winelands District Municipality, as well as the appointment of the mayoral committee members was postponed until yesterday.
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