Government of Local Unity needed in Oudtshoorn to restore stability

30 July 2024

The coalition government that had governed the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality since June 2022 was terminated on Thursday 25 July when the DA walked out of the joint caucus.

After last Thursday's removal of the DA Mayor, Mr Chris Macpherson, the FF Plus took the initiative to invite all the political parties represented in the Council, including the DA, to a meeting on 31 July with the aim of restoring stability to the municipality as soon as possible.

The purpose of the meeting is to establish a Government of Local Unity (GLU) consisting of all parties represented in the Oudtshoorn Municipal Council which consider residents' interests their top priority.

At present, none of the parties are able to govern Oudtshoorn on their own, so, they are compelled to work together.

With this in mind, the FF Plus has compiled a statement of intent and disseminated it to all the political parties in Oudtshoorn. The FF Plus invites all parties to sign it and commit themselves to an effectively functioning government in Oudtshoorn.

Stability and transparent, inclusive governance are urgently needed in Oudtshoorn.

The outcome of the 2021 local government elections created a complicated and unstable reality in Oudtshoorn.

There are currently nine political parties represented in the municipal council, resulting in a situation quite similar to the general elections outcome on national level in South Africa.

This outcome has given rise to a Government of National Unity (GNU) which is currently governing South Africa.

In Oudtshoorn, the situation is as follows:

DA 7 (28%), ANC 7 (28%), FF Plus 3 (12%), ICOSA 2 (8%), PA 2 (8%), OGI 1 (4%), GOOD 1 (4%), Advieskantoor 1 (4%) and Saamstaan 1 (4%).

It is clear that no single party can form a majority government in Oudtshoorn. And at the moment, both the position of the mayor and that of the deputy mayor are vacant.

The Speaker, Mr Johan Allers, has called a council meeting for this Thursday where a new mayor, deputy mayor and speaker, if needed, will be elected.

After that, a new Mayoral Committee will be formed through collaboration between all the parties working together to establish a GLU in Oudtshoorn.

This is a unique opportunity to create a new model for local government which will bring about inclusive growth and progress.

The FF Plus will ensure that the interests of Greater Oudtshoorn residents are prioritised and that stability is not jeopardised by the rash actions of one party.

Issued by Corné Mulder, FF Plus MP and provincial leader: Western Cape, 30 July 2024