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Today, 27 January 2022, the Compatriots of South Africa (CSA) gave every indication that they have started the process of handing the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (DBNLM) back to the ANC.

Together with the ANC, the CSA boycotted the Council Meeting in Aberdeen - thus rendering it unable to quorate. This meeting was called, primarily, to establish the various Standing and Section 79 Committees that a Municipal Council is required to have in order to render services.  We are now entering our third month without any committees, which is a serious threat to governance.

On 23 November 2021, DA Cllr Ewald Loock was elected as Mayor. This followed the DA entering into a coalition agreement with the CSA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus). CSA Cllr Laughton Hoffman was elected as Speaker of Council.

The Dr Beyers Naude Council consists of 24 seats. The DA (10 seats) and its coalition partners the FF Plus (1) and CSA (1) – with the support of the EFF (1) – took over government of this Municipality.

Last week the national president of the CSA, Cheslin Felix, a resident of Port Elizabeth and a well-known supporter of the ANC, removed Cllr Hoffman. Felix, who was unsuccessful in his bid to become a ward councillor in Nelson Mandela Bay, has placed himself at number one on the PR list to take up the party’s seat in Council.

The CSA based their election campaign on the need to rid Dr Beyers Naude of the ANC. Supporters of the CSA voted to remove the ANC – only to be sold down the river by Mr Felix.

The CSA’s support of the ANC will lead to a hung council and service delivery in Dr Beyers Naude will grind to a complete halt.

After only 60 days in government, the DA-led coalition is making a difference. Potholes, boreholes and sewerage drains are being fixed and the landfill site in Aberdeen has been cleared. Refuse collection and water carting have been consistent and illegal dumping sites have been attended to.

The ANC is attempting to get back its power through the back door with the support of the CSA, or to render the Municipality ungovernable.

The DA-led coalition will continue to deliver services.  We will not allow power hungry individuals to destroy our vision for Dr Beyers Naude.

Issued by Dr Beyers Naude Constituency Leader, Samantha Graham-Maré, MP