Cape Town - Karoo politician Truman Prince has vowed to be an even bigger thorn in the DA's side as he ends his reign as Beaufort West mayor.
The ANC lost control of the municipality after the Karoo Democratic Force (KDF), the Karoo Gemeenskap Party and the Karoo Ontwikkelings Party (KOP) and DA formed partnerships to govern the Prince Albert, Laingsburg and Beaufort West municipalities.
Prince said while it was disappointing, he remained a leader of the people - with or without a mayoral chain.
"I don't need a mayoral title to serve my people. Serving the people is not about a title or money; it's about doing everything you can for the people without expecting anything in return. The DA will have to keep one eye on their fragile coalition and another on Truman Prince. All I can say is they will have their hands full," he added.
During a media briefing in Cape Town on Friday, the DA announced they had sealed coalition deals in all three Karoo municipalities.
While KOP's Aubrey Marthinus could not be reached for comment, DA insiders hinted the coalition might have already hit a bump in the road. "Last-minute demands made by the party (KOP) kept them from attending the briefing," a source claimed.
But it was the Beaufort West municipality that raised eyebrows with the ANC losing control of its stronghold in the town's council for the first time.
Prince said as leader of the opposition in the town's council he had a few tricks up his sleeve to ensure service delivery promises to the poor were kept.
Prince said while he respected the decision of smaller parties to work with the DA, experience showed it would in all likelihood be the wrong decision.
"That's a coalition between a devil and an angel. My analysis is that it will not last very long. Just wait till the devil overrules the angel, then the real trouble starts."
He added while he believed the KDF honestly tried to make a change for the people, they would soon learn the DA was after power and control.
"They've made their beds so they must sleep in it. For the sake of our people I can only hope it is not the beginning of the same coalition turmoil that brought other town councils to their knees," he said.
According to Prince what was heartbreaking about Beaufort West's election results was the fact the ANC did not lose against the DA, but lost against themselves.
"If our members were not fighting each other, we would not be seeing the same results. We let the people down, with our internal battles. It should never happen again, we must fix what is broken," he added.
Prince was a proportional representation (PR) candidate for the party and will in all likelihood return to council as the leader of the opposition.
"The DA-led town council will have to be sharp and know their story. I know this municipality, its systems and the needs of the people inside out. Truman Prince will not be stopped by a position and I will not be intimidated or silenced," he said.
"KDF was born as a result of the ANC's own failures and mistakes. They've chosen the DA and now the ANC must step up to the plate and be an effective, united and assertive opposition."
He added the ANC knew how to fight oppression.
"We will be a vibrant opposition," he said.
He also had some advice for the DA: "Understand a one-seat coalition is a fragile thing. One day you have a coalition partner, the next thing you don't. A one councillor difference in a municipality is just not stable enough for a coalition."
Prince added that for now his job would be to protect the integrity and dignity of the people.
Cape Argus