The Democratic Alliance (DA) has acquired another executive mayorship in the Western Cape, the party said on Friday.
DA councillor Rudi Laws has been elected as the new mayor for the Eden district municipality in George following the resignation of Independent Democrats (ID) councillor Leon Dorfling.
”This appointment is in the interest of service delivery and I am honoured to be the one leading delivery,” Laws said. ”There is finally a stable government in Eden and its residents will have a good quality of life through the new leadership.”
Dorfling resigned amid huge criticism of his management style.
He has, however, indicated that he will remain an ID councillor.
The deputy mayorship office that Law had occupied for the past six months will now be filled by the ID’s Jurie Harmse.
Asked what implications the ousting of an ID councillor had for the party, spokesperson Fakkie Genner said: ”There was a motion against Dorfling as a manager, not the party.
”Although we do not have a majority in the district, this does not affect the party at all. We are still part of the council.”
The Eden district municipality is governed by a coalition between the DA, the ID, the African Christian Democratic Party, the Freedom Front Plus and the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa.
This is a similar set-up to that of Cape Town, which is run by the DA’s Helen Zille. — Sapa