Related Content Shock as Laws defects to ANC ANC councillors’ salaries docked for failing to attend meeting

AN Eden District council meeting to elect a new mayor to replace Rudi Laws, who earlier this month resigned from the DA, was yesterday postponed to next week amid ANC accusations that the delay was to afford the ruling party time to agree with its coalition partners on a mayoral candidate.

Municipal manager Godfrey Louw said the meeting did, however, adopt the draft integrated development plan and draft budget.

ANC chief whip Piet van der Hoven said he was told the delay was because the meeting agenda was not ready. “I already have my copy so I don‘t believe that is the reason. I think it is a ploy to give the DA time,” he said.

Louw, however, said there was no ulterior motive for the delay. He said mayoral committee minutes had to be typed and printed after changes were made at the meeting. “The ANC can‘t have got the agenda of the council meeting as we have only just finished printing it. It is 600 pages long.”

Ex-DA mayor Rudi Laws shocked party leaders when he resigned as mayor and defected to the ANC with immediate effect on March 3. – Cathy Dippnall