Unlawful Conduct of Cederberg Speaker Keeps ANC-PA in Power for Now

Date: 08 November 2022

In a desperate attempt to stay in power in Cederberg municipality, ANC Speaker Maxwell Heins unlawfully tried to prevent motions to remove the ANC-PA government from serving at a council meeting today.

The convincing by-election win by the CE-DA-FF Plus coalition in ward 5 in October gave the coalition councillors a majority in council. Instead of accepting defeat, the ANC-PA coalition have now unlawfully sought to delay and obstruct a democratic process to remove them from office.

At the meeting today the Speaker attempted to introduce an agenda item which referred to disciplinary hearings conducted against councillors from Cederberg First and the Freedom Front Plus by what was essentially a kangaroo court. In so doing, the Speaker was attempting to strip the councillors from their right to partake in council proceedings.

Despite being warned that his actions were unlawful, the Speaker first ejected the public from the meeting and then ordered the forceful removal of the “implicated” councillors by municipal law enforcement officers.

The councillors from the Democratic Alliance registered their protest against the undemocratic conduct of the speaker by leaving the meeting shortly thereafter.

It is unfortunate that the acting municipal manager, Bruce Kannemeyer, did not fulfil his statutory obligation and enabled the conduct of the speaker.

The total disregard for the rule of law and the democratic expression of voters has become a trademark of a desperate ANC wanting to cling to power at all costs.

In this pursuit they are supported by the Patriotic Alliance.

The majority of councillors in the Cederberg Council – CE, DA and FF Plus - have now written to Minister Anton Bredell, the MEC for Local Government, to request him to designate an official to convene and chair a meeting of council at which the motions of no confidence will be considered.

The DA will not accept the unlawful attempts by the ANC-PA coalition to stay in power. The residents of the Cederberg local municipality deserve better.

Statement issued by Andricus van der Westhuizen - DA Constituency Head, Cederberg, DA Constituency Head, Cederberg, 8 November 2022