DA set to lose Beaufort West
people, and would be “dealt with”.
Malema had told DA leader Mmusi Maimane during the State of the Nation address debate that the DA’s hold on three metros depended on their attitude to expropriation without compensation.
The DA is governing coalition metros after it entered into a pact with the EFF.
Yesterday, DA federal executive chairperson James Selfe insisted that security of land ownership was fundamental to economic development. THE DA is all but set to lose control of the beleaguered Beaufort West Municipality after their coalition partner broke off the agreement and joined the ANC.
The Karoo Democratic Force (KDF), the kingmaker in the council, broke off their 2016 agreement to run the municipality. At that time, both the ANC and DA won six council seats and wooed the KDF to go into a coalition.
Noel Constable, KDF leader, said they have decided to form a coalition with the ANC. The position of mayor will be held by the KDF, while comeback kid Truman Prince will be the new deputy mayor and Sinky Motsoana the speaker.
“With our decision to withdraw our coalition, we decided not to create a hung council whereby no one governs. The people of Beaufort West don’t deserve that.
“We went into coalition with the ANC to ensure that there is stability in the council and to improve the service delivery to our people,” he said.
Constable said the communication broke down with the DA and decisions were taken unilaterally.
“Pillars of our manifesto were the development of youths and creating opportunities for the contractors. I mention these two elements because that would require an investment in the youth as they are our region’s future.
“Currently we are seeing that tenders and contracts go to only certain individuals who were previously advantaged. The smaller contractors are being used as foreman and not contractors,” he said.
He said the resignation of former mayor Djorge Malooi and the firing of councillors placed the council under tremendous stress.
“During the election, we gave our full support to the DA and many promises were made to people. But currently the promises have been wiped out and now it appears that we are a bunch of liars,” he said.
Jaco Londt, DA regional leader in the Central Karoo, said he was disappointed with the new developments. Londt said current mayor Japie van der Linde will now be sitting in opposition benches.