Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance won a by-election in troubled Oudtshoorn by a landslide on Wednesday but it remains to be seen whether they will get to govern the ward.
The DA won the election in Ward 7 with 79.3 percent of the votes against 13.4 percent for the ANC.
An independent candidate managed to win 2.6 percent.
After the by-election the DA maintained their majority in coalition with Cope with 13 seats, against the ANC-NPP-Icosa coalition’s 12 seats.
However, for more than a year and a half the ANC have refused to convene a council meeting with the DA or to accept a motion of no confidence in its leadership, despite a court order.
DA spokeswoman Liza Albrecht on Thursday morning said they were now hoping the ANC would relinquish power in the town and make way for the DA to govern there.
“Because the ANC has repeatedly proven in the past they are not prepared to respect democracy and to relinquish power when they lose, the DA will, after yesterday’s win, meet with our lawyers about the best way forward.”
Albrecht said they were delighted with the win, adding that the electorate had just reinforced what they already knew.
“It is time for the ANC to ship out so that the people of Oudtshoorn can get the government they deserve and voted for.
“The ANC’s failure to respect the will of the majority of the people of Oudtshoorn is a flagrant disregard for our democratic principles and our constitution.”
The ANC could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print on Thursday morning.
Cape Argus