Illegal election must be set aside

5 September 2016

The unlawful election of the mayor of the Gamagara Local Municipality must be set aside and a lawful election held within the next seven days.

Due to fears inflamed by internal factionalism, the ANC councillors wrongfully insisted that the election of mayor must be held by show of hands. But Schedule 3(6)(a) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act clearly states that the voting must be done by secret ballot.

They knew their internal fighting has reached the level where some of their councillors would have voted for the DA candidate if the election was done lawfully.

What makes this illegal election all the more shocking is the fact that the MEC of Co-operative Governance sat idly by and approved the blatant violation of our country’s laws. This is the same man who wanted to invoke the Constitution and dissolve the municipal council, but apparently lacks even the basic knowledge of the laws regulating local governance.

The Democratic Alliance has sent our demand for a lawful election to the municipal manager. We will be taking further action if our demand is not met.

Issued by Andrew Louw, DA Provincial Leader in the Northern Cape, 5 September 2016