The IEC said it could confirm that it had Vinienne Rochelle Porter from the Patriotic Alliance as the replacement councillor on its database.

The appointment of Vinienne Porter formed part of a special Mossel Bay municipal council meeting on Thursday, 25 April, under the item, "Declaration of vacancy and replacement: proportional councillor: Patriotic Alliance".

In the item it is stated that Mossel Bay Municipality received former councillor Faizell Porter's letter of resignation on 28 March. The letter was attached as an annexure and in it he pledges his continued loyalty to the PA.

"The municipal manager, therefore, within 14 days in terms of Item 18, Schedule 1 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, No. 117 of 1998 informed the Chief Electoral Officer that Councillor F Porter has ceased to hold office," the item read.

"The Chief Electoral Officer then proceeded to declare in writing the person whose name is at the top of the applicable party list to be elected in the vacancy, being Vinienne Rochelle Porter."

The above correspondence was also attached as an annexure. On enquiry from Mossel Bay Advertiser, the IEC said it could confirm that it had Vinienne Rochelle Porter from the Patriotic Alliance as the replacement councillor on its database.

According to the item before council, Faizell Porter served on the Corporate and Governance Services Committee during his tenure as councillor as well as on the following Section 79 committees: Municipal Public Accounts Committee and Code of Conduct Committee.

The recommendations made in the item were as follows:

That cognisance be taken that councillor VR Porter must, in terms of the Item 8 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors, proceed to declare her financial interests to the municipal manager within 60 days of being elected/ appointed.

That Councillor VR Porter replaces Councillor FB Porter on the Corporate and Governance Services Committee and the Municipal Public Accounts Committee.

An amendment to the item was proposed during the council meeting which recommended that the councillor also fill the vacancy on the Code of Conduct Committee.