PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS  - The Bitou council is set for political change that will see the current ANC-led coalition removed from office and replaced by a DA-led coalition, if motions of no confidence in the mayor, speaker and whip are passed today, Monday 19 August.

This could mean that the DA, AUF and IPM will snatch a one-seat majority in the council, displacing the ruling ANC coalition - after being in the cold for only six months.

The reason is that the deputy mayor in the ANC-led coalition, Nokuzola Kolwapi, of the Ikhwezi Political Movement (IPM), has apparently indicated she will support motions of no confidence in the ruling ANC's top office bearers and the mayor.

Ironically, it was Claude Terblanche of the PDC who, as speaker in the previous DA- led coalition, jumped ship in January to become mayor and give the ANC coalition its majority of one.

Now he could find himself out in the cold after Dave Swart, the DA caucus chairperson and former mayor, announced on 8 August that "various motions" were delivered to Bitou municipality on behalf of the councillors of the DA, AUF and IPM, to call for a special council meeting on 19 August.

"At this meeting motions of no confidence will be made against the mayor, speaker and whip of council to remove them from office and to vote in other councillors into these positions," said Swart.

It is reliably learnt that replacing them will be a new mayor, appointed by the DA, and a speaker appointed by the AUF, who will most likely be former deputy mayor Punkie (Mavis) Busakwe - with Kolwapi (IPM) staying on as deputy mayor.

The reason for Kolwapi's apparent shift in allegiance from the ANC coalition is not known, and a Woman's Day celebration she was to address on 9 August was cancelled at the last moment "due to unforeseen circumstances".

With Kolwapi seemingly supporting the motions, there is a strong possibility for a DA-led coalition grabbing a one-seat majority in the Bitou council with a 7 to 6 voting bloc.

If successful, it is expected that Terblanche (ward 4), ANC speaker Sandison Gcabayi (PR councillor) and ANC whip Samkele Mangxaba will make way.

Heinrigt Mitchell (PR councillor) of the PA would again move to the opposition benches if predictions are anything to go by. The IPM has said it will not comment to the media "at the moment" until the vote. Only then a statement will be released.

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