DA in coalition with ID ousts the ANC
2007-04-25
AMID jeers and cheers, Drakenstein got a new ruler on Thursday.
The threat of a takeover of the ANC-led council has loomed on the horizon for the past few months, with the ID throwing in its weight with the DA to defeat the ANC in a number of motions.
On Thursday, the DA with the support of the ID, ACDP and Freedom Front Plus, tabled a motion of no confidence in the ANC office-bearers at a special council meeting.
With 31 of the 61 councillors having put their hands on paper in support of the motion, it was a foregone conclusion that the challengers would win the day.
Executive Mayor Charmaine Manuel had the mayoral chambers cleared of her possessions on Wednesday last week.
According to some sources, members of the executive committee and their support staff had secured storage space in the basement of the municipal building, in the hope that the floor crossing in September might return them to power.
But before the meeting, rumours were rife about possible deserters and members of some of the parties who didn’t see eye to eye with their leaders.
The atmosphere was tense in the Wellington Town Hall where the whole drama played out over two hours and members of the police and traffic department were much in evidence, while the noisy gallery filled with supporters of the ANC and the ID cheered and jeered in turn.
Finally, Koos Louw (DA) was elected mayor in the place of Charmaine Manuel (ANC), while Solomon (Billy) Ross (ID) replaced Sikhumbuzo Mgajo as Speaker. Deputy mayor Wilhelm Nothnagel (ID) retained his position.
See page 2 for more.
The Drakenstein council meeting last Thursday, when the ID officially joined forces with the DA to oust the ANC, was attended by ID leader Patricia de Lille.
De Lille and her entourage took up their seats at the last minute at the rear of the town hall, under the balcony where out of view of the public.
The meeting started with a moment’s silence in remembrance of the late councillor Sienah Saaiman, after which Speaker Sikhumbuzo Mgajo asked DA councillor Koos Louw to read the motion of no confidence, calling for the removal of all office-bearers.
Mayor Charmaine Manuel (ANC) responded, saying that is was indeed a sad day for Drakenstein when politicians reached for power, regardless of the political instability it would cause.
They will even use the death of Sienah Saaiman to improve their chances to grab power, she alleged, and proposed that the status quo be maintained.
The Speaker had his hands full trying to maintain order with councillors of all parties trying to speak. In the end he brought the matter to the vote. With the WCC abstaining, the DA coalition won by 31 votes to the ANC's 24 and the FD’s 1.
Mgajo then left the table with applause from both sides, while municipal manager Dr Sidima Kabanyane handled the election of a new Speaker.
For this post, Solomon Ross (ID) and Mgajo were both nominated and councillors proceed to the stage to vote by ballot paper.
Audible gasps could be heard when Dr Kabanyane read out the first result: “Mgajo, 31 votes.”
This implied that ID members had reneged on the agreement with the ID. Just that morning there had been speculation that the ANC had promised R300 000 each to a female councillor of the ID and two of the DA to spoil their ballots. Then Kabanyane stated that a mistake had been made. The true result was 31 for Ross and 26 for Mgajo, with two spoilt ballot papers (presumably those of the WCC).
Chaos erupted on the gallery, causing the newly elected Speaker to call on security to restore order.
De Lille, provincial leader Sakkie Jenner and other visiting members of the ID signalled to Ross to stop the proceedings, but he continued.
The rest of the elections held few surprises.
Koos Louw (DA) beat Charmaine Manuel (ANC) to the mayoral office by 32 votes to 27.
This result probably saw a split between the two members of the WCC, each backing one of the two candidates.
The new mayor received his robe and chain from the Speaker, but a visibly upset Louw declined the opportunity to address the meeting, as the level of noise made it impossible to be heard.
When Matthys Nothnagel (ID) and Spasie Kika (ANC) were nominated for deputy mayor, Kika withdrew and Nothnagel retained his office.
Councillor Arthob Petersen (ANC) got in a last word: "I want it put on record that the ANC has noted with great concern the dubious, underhanded way in which the opposition resorted to take over power. We deplore the fact that there is no single African person in the first three top posts," he said, adding that he was also very concerned about the fact that no women were elected.
"We regard this as a sad day in history. It reminds us of the dark days of Apartheid."
Councillor Jean Smit (DA) defended his party, saying they had chosen the best persons for the positions, after which the meeting was adjourned.
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