Sparks fly after new Bitou mayor appointed

Update

BITOU NEWS - Sparks are flying within the Bitou Municipality after a new mayor was elected during a special council meeting on Thursday. The election followed the ousting of former mayor Peter Lobese when a successful motion of no confidence was passed over a month ago.

DA Caucus Leader Bill Nel was elected mayor during the meeting, which was attended by seven of the 13 councillors, constituting six DA councillors and Lobese of the AUF. The council’s speaker, Euan Wildeman, was also ousted following a vote of no confidence during the meeting.

Deputy Mayor Sandiso Gcabayi has since released a statement saying that the behaviour of these councillors was “reckless and criminal” and slammed the meeting as “unlawful”.

Gcabayi said the meeting was scheduled for 24 May, but that the councillors held the meeting on 20 May with the objective to create “instability, uncertainty and chaos” in council, a situation that would require Western Cape MEC for local government Anton Bredell to send a team from provincial government to manage the affairs of the Bitou Municipality.

“The communiqué that has been circulated advising the public and ratepayers of the appointment of a new acting mayor and speaker are wholly incorrect and must be condemned, laughed off and ignored,” Gcabayi said.

Nel however rubbished Gcabayi’s claims, stating that the meeting and election of a new mayor was within the ambits of the law. Another meeting is likely to be held today, Friday 21 May.

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