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The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the announcement that the Mayor of ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, Marius Louw, has stepped aside. This comes just a day after the DA called on him to step down due to his Hawks arrest relating to a fraud charge.

This was the right thing to do.

In a province marked by excessive deterioration, in a climate whereby state capture by ANC cadres has led to corruption and institutional breakdown for which residents of the province are now paying the costs, the only credible route for governments to follow is for those facing criminal charges to be removed from the system while justice prevails.

This is an increasingly necessary precaution to safeguard what is left of state resources and a necessary step to try and restore a semblance of integrity in what has become a dishonourable state.

Issued by Flip Van Der Steen, Cllr - DA Whip, Dawid Kruiper Municipality