The ANC in Oudtshoorn is considering going the legal route to reverse the ousting of the Western Cape’s youngest mayor, Chad Louw, in what it has described as an illegal meeting.
Louw, 25, was ousted in a late-night council meeting on Wednesday, with DA councillor Chris McPherson replacing him.
With no political background, Louw has occupied the seat since November, when the ANC entered into a coalition with multiple parties to oust the DA.
At the meeting, the DA and it’s coalition partners, which include the FF+, Independent Civic Organisation of SA (ICOSA) and Suid-Kaap Saamstaan, elected McPherson as executive mayor, Mlandeli Nyuka from Suid-Kaap Saamstaan as deputy mayor, and Johan Allers from the FF+ as speaker.
The council also elected the DA’s Anel Berry as the new chief whip of the Oudtshoorn council.
ANC chief whip Zoe Tyatya said: “We are in consultations with leaders and lawyers regarding the [alleged] unlawful meeting.
“The speaker had adjourned the chaotic meeting [until] Monday.
“We had left the meeting when they [opposition parties] opted to continue with it, [so] we are of the view the meeting was illegal,” Tyatya said.
However, Western Cape local government MEC Anton Bredell said he had not yet received any complaints regarding the change in government.
Bredell said: “If there are any allegations they should put it in writing so we can investigate.”
Pieter Mulder, from the FF+, said: “It's a long time coming, the instability that has been prevailing in the town.”
Mulder said there was a coalition contract in place, which gave all parties an equal footing in the coalition.
DA provincial leader Tertius Simmers said the DA was confident in the newly elected leadership of the Oudtshoorn municipality.
"[It] will bring the DA’s proven record of good governance back to Oudtshoorn and its residents,” Simmers said.
On allegations of the meeting being unlawful, Simmers said: “The negotiations to bring stability in the Oudtshoorn council stretched over some weeks, and I am not aware of any reason to question compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations and rules of order.
“I am also not aware of any procedural challenge relating to the removal of the ANC executive mayor by a motion of no confidence brought by two smaller parties in council.”
PA national chair Marlon Daniels said: “The DA is so desperate to cling to power that it cannot accept that historically disadvantaged people are taking over power strategically all over the country.
“The DA’s tricks are unacceptable and there is no instability in that municipality.
“This matter will end up in court.”
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