The DA and FF Plus have been removed from power in Matzikama Municipality after motions of no confidence against the speaker, mayor and deputy mayor passed at a recent council meeting. The ANC, Patriotic Alliance (PA), EFF and GOOD Party now form the new ruling coalition, accusing the previous administration of failing residents.
According to the Cape Times, the council elected new leadership during an intense meeting last week, with eight of the fifteen councillors backing the motions. The ANC’s Johan Muller replaces Andreas Sindyamba as speaker, the PA’s Monica Bottom, a former community worker turned politician, assumes the role of mayor, replacing the DA’s Johan van der Hoven, and the EFF’s Xolani Tsetu succeeds Amelia Job as deputy mayor.
However, the legal process is still being discussed. The municipality stated that the validity of the new appointments will be challenged in court, as the ousted leaders maintain they still hold office. The meeting descended into controversy when the speaker, himself facing a no-confidence motion, attempted to adjourn proceedings. Meanwhile, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) advised that an acting speaker should oversee the vote, but the meeting proceeded regardless.
In a media release published in May, the GOOD Party claimed the DA-led government had neglected service delivery and governance. Brett Herron, the party’s secretary-general, says the coalition aims to prioritise ethical leadership and community needs. GOOD party councillor Christoffel van der Westhuizen will join the mayoral committee as MMC for Community Services.
The DA rejected the claims, with DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers calling it a ‘desperate power grab.’ He insisted the DA-FF Plus coalition had improved finances and services after past mismanagement.
‘The DA, in partnership with the FF Plus, has worked hard to restore service delivery, stabilise finances, and uphold good governance in a municipality that had previously suffered under coalition chaos and mismanagement. Contrary to the GOOD Party’s claims, the DA-led government took concrete steps to improve service delivery, address infrastructure challenges, and implement financial discipline,’ he stated.
As legal challenges loom, Matzikama residents await clarity on who will ultimately lead the municipality and if the new coalition can keep its promises.
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