By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The first coalition agreement for a hung municipality in the Western Cape has been concluded between the Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus and the Cederberg First Residents Association.
The three partners signed off on the agreement to govern the Cederberg Municipality for the next five years.
The municipality was previously governed by a DA majority following the 2016 municipal elections, but the party lost four seats.
The Freedom Front Plus grew its support in the area and gained one seat, while the new independent political association Cederberg First Residents Association gained three seats.
With their combined six seats, the municipality will be governed through a coalition.
According to the agreement the position of mayor will go to the Cederberg First Residents Association while the Freedom Front Plus will get the deputy mayor position.
DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille, who played a key role in the DA’s coalition talks, tweeted on Friday that the party had concluded its first coalition council in the Western Cape.
She said the agreement was historic because it incorporated lessons learnt from past agreements, including successes and failures.
Meanwhile DA in KwaZulu-Natal has walked out of the proceedings where its first municipality mayor in the province was to be inaugurated.
The suspended Municipal Manager, Thembeka Cibane, attempted to preside over the inauguration. The DA raised various points of order relating to her as presiding officer as the entire process was therefore irregular. Consequently, the DA walked out of the proceedings – a step that was supported by the EFF.
The DA and other opposition councillors have since been sworn in at the Howick Magistrate Court.
What we’ve seen in uMngeni is an attempt to roll back the democratic outcome of a legitimate electoral process.
Our Councillors are now sworn in and are ready to get things done.
If President Ramaphosa is serious about the rule of law, he must condemn the conduct of his party. pic.twitter.com/ncgz548cAg
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) November 12, 2021
DA has also begun legal proceedings to ensure that a new council meeting is called and Mayor-elect Chris Pappas and his team are inaugurated.