Patriotic Alliance leads removal of Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front government in Cederberg, with support of DA's councillors after severe disrespect from DA
13 July 2022
The leadership of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) welcomes the downfall of the DA-Freedom Front coalition government in the Cederberg Local Municipality, Western Cape, after a successful motion of no confidence was passed in the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker of council on Wednesday, 13 July. The municipality was the first of many hung councils after the 2021 elections to agree to form a coalition government, which was signed between the DA, Freedom Front Plus and the Cederberg First Residents Association. The municipality had previously been governed by the ANC.
Ruben Richards of the Cederberg First Residents Association became the mayor while the Freedom Front Plus took the deputy mayor position. Joseph Farmer of the DA became the speaker of council. During the motion of no confidence on Wednesday, a deadlock of votes was reached in council, with Farmer then left to cast the deciding vote. He then voted against his own party, the DA, with the support of another DA councillor.
The council then elected Farmer as the new mayor.
The Patriotic Alliance's councillor Wentzel van Neel is the new deputy mayor, while the ANC's Maxwell Heins was elected as the new speaker.