ANC regains power after ID defections
2007-09-06
May Saal
THE ANC became the ruling party in Drakenstein Municipality again, after five ID mayoral committee councillors of the Drakenstein municipality defected to the ANC.
They are Wilhelm Nothnagel (Deputy Mayor), Marthinus le Hoe, Thulani Kompela, Harisha Douman and Claude Julies.
Other defectors to the ANC are Philmon Maxam (formerly WCC) and Conwal du Plessis (ID), councillor of the Cape Winelands District Council.
All the “crossovers” were of the same opinion, that the ID has been backpedalling and is basically a “one woman show”.
“The ID has no policy position and is a paranoid party that cannot make up its mind where it stands within the South African political framework,” said Kompela.
Nothnagel added, “The ID does not have the will to govern and the alliance with the Democratic Alliance was forced on us.”
“I am relieved to be free from the ID. I see myself as a patriot who wants to contribute to the building of our country, especially on community level.”
Asked why he had joined the ANC, despite signing the suspension letter of the ANC appointed municipal manager, Dr Sidima Kabanyane, Nothnagel insisted: “I was forced to get rid of Kabanyane. I was told by the ID/DA coalition that if I didn’t get rid of Kabanyane, they would get rid of me”.
When ANC Western Cape Secretary-General Mcebisi Skwatsha was asked if he would have confidence in a man who could not handle the “pressure” from the DA and ID, he said not everyone could handle the same amount of pressure.
“This we learnt in the struggle. Nothnagel is a decent man and he will learn and grow in the ANC.”
Nothnagel laid charges of crimen injuria on Tuesday against ID MP Sarah Paulse after she allegedly left a racist voicemail message on his mobile phone.
Most of the councillors who crossed the floor, said the they were “back home now” with the ANC.
“Although some of these comrades were not ANC members, they feel in their hearts that they are home where they belong”, Skwatsha said.
Said Philmon Maxam, “For me it’s a matter of a lost son coming home.”
Julies said that he had consulted with his voters about his decision to cross the floor to the ANC.
“We came to the conclusion that we will serve the community better within the ranks of the ANC”.
Angry residents of ward 25, Le Hoe’s ward, gathered on Tuesday to show their anger against the defection of their ward counsillor.
“He did not talk to us about defecting to the ANC. We heard about it after the ANC media conference,” ward committee member Jennifer Botha said.
Last year in March, the ANC drew 42,06% of the votes in the Drakenstein Municipal elections.
This did not, however, give the 26 ANC councillors an absolute majority in the council (requiring 31 of the 61 seats).
They formed a coalition with the ID and a proportional executive committee was formed, splitting the positions and power between the top parties in Drakenstein.
In April this year, 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 in support of the motion, it was a foregone conclusion that the challengers would win the day.
Koos Louw (DA) was elected mayor in the place of Charmaine Manuel (ANC), while Billy Ross (ID) replaced Sikhumbuzo Mgajo (ANC) as Speaker. Their reign lasted only four months.
Deputy mayor Wilhelm Nothnagel (ID) retained his position at that time.
* Further floor crossing by three other ID members to the NPP were rumoured, but have not yet been confirmed.
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