The Democratic Alliance (DA) is striking out against coalition partners in the Eastern Region of the Western Cape after an unexpected political maneuver by the Vruheidsfront Plus (VF+). The collaboration between the vF+ and the African National Congress (ANC) has led to the ousting of DA Mayor Chris McPherson in Oudtshoorn.

Venolea Fortuin, the DA Regional Chairperson, issued a statement expressing disappointment with the VF+, which has historically been seen as a dependable coalition partner. Fortuin emphasized that this trust has now been compromised. The VF+ voted with the Patriotic Alliance (PA), GOOD party, and the Oudtshoorn Community Initiative to vote McPherson out of office in a motion of no confidence. Fortuin underscored that the DA will reevaluate its alliances with parties that are now deemed unreliable.

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Abuse of powers

The VF+ has countered this stance, asserting that the DA's unwavering support for McPherson, despite serious allegations of abuse of power and misconduct, precipitated the coalition's collapse.

The allegations of abuse of powers followed the controversial reinstatement of a senior official, Llewellyn Coetzee, to a position allegedly contrary to proper procedure. Colan Sylvester, a councillor with the Oudtshoorn Community Initiative (OGI), has lodged fraud charges against Mayor Chris McPherson, Municipal Manager Walter Hendricks, and Speaker Johan Allers.

The charges stem from a directive issued by MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell, demanding that Coetzee's appointment as Director of Planning and Development be reversed. Bredell had declared the appointment “irregular” because Coetzee lacked the required qualifications, including a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields. Consequently, Bredell deemed the appointment “null and void.”

Sylvester argues that the original recruitment process failed to identify suitable candidates, including Coetzee, whose qualifications did not meet the minimum standards. Despite this, Coetzee was selected for the role after a re-advertisement.

Spokesperson Wouter Kriel confirmed Bredell’s directive, which instructed that Coetzee be reverted to his previous role as Senior Manager for Development and Planning. Sylvester contends that this reinstatement was improperly executed, as the Senior Manager position was eliminated earlier and was neither advertised nor budgeted for, potentially leading to irregular expenditure and financial misconduct.

Mayor McPherson maintains that Coetzee's reversion was a verbal agreement formalized after receiving Bredell’s non-concurrence letter. He asserts that the position was reinserted into the municipal organogram to comply with the directive.

Sylvester has called on Bredell to address the issue, arguing that Coetzee’s reappointment breaches the Local Government Systems Act, which mandates that all municipal posts be officially included in the staff establishment. This controversy highlights ongoing governance challenges within Oudtshoorn’s municipal administration.

ANC Chief Whip Zoë Tyatya clarified the recent developments, stating that the motion of no confidence against McPherson was a result of comprehensive consultations with the Oudtshoorn community. Although a motion against Speaker Johan Allers was also proposed, it did not proceed.

Tyatya's statement highlighted that the coalition of the ANC, VF+, PA, OGI, Advies Kantoor, and the GOOD party provided the ANC with a clear majority. He asserted that this coalition was formed to address the inadequacies in service delivery under the DA-led administration, emphasizing the community's demand for change.

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Fallout

The coalition in Oudtshoorn, which included the DA, VF+, ICOSA, and Saamstaan, disintegrated when the DA unilaterally ended the coalition agreement. This decision came after concerted efforts by the coalition partners to preserve their alliance. The DA's departure from a pre-council meeting signaled their refusal to negotiate further.

As punishment for attempting to keep the DA from protecting its corrupt members as it has previously in Drakenstein, Bitou and Garden Route, the DA has severed ties with the VF across the Eastern Region, including in Mosselbaai. The VF+ also criticised the DA for unilaterally dissolving coalition agreements in the George Municipality and the Garden Route District Municipality, where the VF+ was ousted from all positions.

The VF+ has declared its readiness to assume a leadership role in Oudtshoorn and safeguard other coalitions in the Western Cape. The party maintains that it cannot passively watch as the DA protects a contentious mayor and violates coalition agreements for its own interests.

With only seven out of twenty-five seats on the Oudtshoorn council, it is unclear who the DA hopes to form a coalition with - they are in a minority position in several councils in the east of the province, and speculation has arisen that they might form coalitions with the ANC.

Negotiations in recent days involved high-level DA representatives, including federal chair Helen Zille, DA MP Jaco Londt, and Western Cape DA leader Tertius Simmers. Despite these discussions, the coalition partners were adamant that McPherson could not remain mayor due to the severity of the allegations against him.

The DA, however, rejected this consensus, asserting their right to determine the mayoral position, despite holding a minority of seats, and one seat less than the ANC.

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