GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - George Mayor Melvin Naik is facing disciplinary action from his party following his announcement last week that the visit of a gay chorus and parade in town does not carry his blessing.

The Gay Pride Parade took place in York Street on Tuesday with a performance of the Boston Gay Men's Chorus at the Conville Civic Centre later that evening (read more about the event on p **).

Naik's comments were labelled as homophobic and landed him before a panel of the DA's Federal Legal Commission (FLC), for bringing the party into disrepute. The hearing will take place today and tomorrow in George.

According to Elsabe Oosthuizen of the office of the Federal Executive Committee (Fedex) Chairperson James Selfe, Naik's comments about the choir forms part of the charges. Oosthuizen did not disclose the other charges against Naik.

"The panel will make a finding and recommend a sanction. No decision has yet been made in terms of his membership," said Oosthuizen.

In a separate matter Knysna Mayor Mark Willemse will also be facing a disciplinary hearing from his party, but has no idea when this will take place. By Tuesday afternoon Willemse hasn't yet received a charge sheet. "I will take further legal advice once I have received the charges," said Willemse.

Knysna Mayor Mark Willemse.

DA Western Cape Leader Bonginkosi Madikizela last week expressed the party's disappointment with the way Willemse obtained the mayoral seat. Willemse and a fellow DA councillor teamed up with the opposition in support of a motion of no confidence in the previous mayor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies, apparently without notifying the party of their plan.

Willemse has been accused of contravening a section of the DA's federal Constitution after their suspected mobilization of the ANC to vote against Bouw-Spies.

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