The Oudtshoorn council in the Little Karoo elected a new mayor today as part of their new Government of Local Unity. This after last week’s surprise decision of the FF Plus supporting the ANC in a motion of no confidence against former DA mayor Chris Macpherson.
The DA says this action not only broke their existing coalition agreements with the FF Plus but also handed the Oudtshoorn Municipality back to the ANC. Former Speaker Johan Allers, from the FF Plus, was elected as the new mayor. Differences with Macpherson resulted in the party siding with the opposition.
“We approached the other parties and then we formed a Government of Local Unity, similar to the national structures. We invited all parties to be part of this local unity and at the end of the day, three parties joined in that and that is how the new government was formed today,” says Allers.
The coalition now consists of the FF Plus, ANC and the Patriotic Alliance as block party with the Oudtshoorn Gemeenskaps Inisiatief and Advieskantoor.
With the DA, GOOD, ICOSA and Suid-Kaap Saamstaan in opposition.
“So, we’re looking forward to work, as much as it’s very humbling, but at the same time we’re looking forward to get down to work. As you might be aware, the mayor is going to immediately announce his MAYCO today, so our stance is that we immediately work and bring services to our people,” says New ANC Oudtshoorn Deputy Mayor Mziwoxolo Tyatya.
“We have big plans for Oudtshoorn deserves a lot better, our infrastructure has deteriorated over the years and there’s a lot of work and zero development. It’s just here and there you see a mall popping up, but no longevity, there’s no continuation to eradicate joblessness in our town,” says New PA Oudtshoorn Speaker Suzanne Jansen.
In a statement, DA Federal Executive Chairperson Helen Zille voiced her disappointment in the FF Plus in Oudtshoorn for going against their coalition agreement and conspiring with other parties to get their own candidate elected as mayor.
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