The ANC has called on the Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to investigate allegations that the DA-run Stellenbosch municipality is illegally constituted.
The claims were first made last month by the Stellenbosch Civic Alliance’s Andre van der Walt, who said the DA had forged the signature of one of its councillors, David Botha.
His signature was on an application the 15 DA councillors made to the Western Cape High Court for a declaratory order compelling the then- speaker, Gordon Pheiffer, to call a council meeting.
The order was granted and it was at that council meeting in December 2009 that the ANC and its coalition partners lost control of the municipality, with the DA forming a coalition with other smaller parties.
Control of the municipality had been tenuous since the 2006 local government elections, which delivered 16 seats to the ANC and 15 to the DA.
Myra Linders, an independent councillor, held the balance of power and sided with the ANC before corruption allegations against mayor Patrick Swartz and his deputy, Cameron Mcako, threw the municipality into turmoil.
Swartz’s Kayamandi Civic Association was also an ANC coalition partner.
Police have since withdrawn the corruption charges against Swartz. He and several others are being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit.
Yesterday, ANC supporters and provincial chairman Marius Fransman were on the steps of the Stellenbosch town hall, calling for a probe into the forgery allegations.
Also at the town hall was former DA councillor Naomi Nel from the Breede River Municipality, who joined the ANC.
She said she was angry because she had been left off the DA candidates list.
DA provincial leader Theuns Botha asked why the allegations were being raised now, “two weeks before an election”.
He said the matter had been referred to the DA’s federal council, which had yet to make a decision.
Fransman said the DA had aimed the municipality’s resources at the more affluent areas.
“We are disappointed in the DA rule, they have created more wealth (in the town centre) and not in Khayamandi, Idas Valley or Cloetesville.”
Fransman said the ANC would object to the passing of the budget, scheduled for today, and call for it to be delayed until May 28, when a newly elected council would have the mandate.
Van der Walt said action had to be taken to reverse the “treacherous actions” of the DA, who he believed had conned the Western Cape High Court into issuing the order. - Cape Times