DA candidate elected as mayor in Tlokwe

The municipality of Tlokwe (Potchefstroom) yesterday elected a DA mayor for the first time.

The DA does not hold a majority in the council. In 2011, we received 37% of the votes in Tlokwe to the ANC's 58%. This means that the DA holds 19 seats to the ANC's 30. The FF+ also holds 2 seats and COPE 1.

Yesterday the Tlokwe council passed a motion of no confidence in the former mayor of Tlokwe, Andrew Maphetle. The motion passed 37-13. The DA supported the motion of no confidence given that there were a series of serious corruption allegations against the former mayor.

After the motion passed, Mr Maphetle and his supporters in the ANC left the council - leaving the 20 opposition representatives present with a 20 -19 majority. The opposition then tabled a motion to elect a new mayor, winning the vote 20 - 19 and appointing the DA's Annette Combrinck as Mayor of Tlokwe. Mayor Combrinck is a former rector of North West University's Potchefstroom campus.

This victory shows how the divisions in the ANC are slowly tearing the party apart. The ANC in Tlokwe was so divided that it could not agree on a mayoral preference. And if a party cannot decide on a mayoral preference, or presidential preference for that matter, it cannot be expected to implement effective service delivery.

For as long as the ANC in Tlokwe remains divided, the DA mayor will do everything possible to deliver the best services to the people of Tlokwe and display the DA difference in government. 

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA National Spokesperson, November 22 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter