PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A women's "revolution" took place in the Bitou council on Monday 26 August, when two of the top three women office-bearers were elected to office, replacing the previous administration.
It was, as new mayor Jessica Kamkam, from ward 1 in Kurland, described in her acceptance speech, "Womandla".
The election of the new executive came after weeks of tension and confusion following motions of no confidence brought by the majority councillors from the DA, IPM (Ikwezi Political Movement) and AUF (Active United Front) to oust the coalition consisting of the ANC, PDC (Plett Democratic Congress) and PA (Patriotic Alliance).
The motions were on the council agenda on Monday 19 August but were not dealt with after ANC speaker Sandiso Gcabhayi adjourned the meeting abruptly and walked out, along with the rest of his coalition.
Another meeting was called on 23 August, by what the DA called "an illegal minority government". All seven majority councillors excused themselves from this meeting, and it did not go ahead.
At Monday's meeting the majority councillors continued with their motion against Gcabhayi and he was voted out - and Mavis Busakwe, of the AUF, was elected as the new speaker.
The vote for mayor produced a glitch in that while the motion against mayor Claude Terblanche of the PDC was successful, the vote for mayor was stalled because the ANC and PA nominated Terblanche for the position, while the majority councillors nominated Jessica Kamkam of the DA.
A secret ballot was held and in the end there were seven votes for Kamkam and six for Terblanche. Previous DA mayor Dave Swart could not stand for mayor because of his new commitments to the Garden Route Municipality as a Bitou council representative.
As soon as the result of the vote was announced, supporters from the majority councillors burst into loud song and cheering for the top three women office-bearers, Jessica Kamkam (DA), mayor; Mavis Busakwe (AUF), speaker; and Nokuzola Kolwapi (IPM), deputy mayor.
It was Kolwapi's alignment with the DA and IPM that lead to a majority of councillors along with the DA.
Kamkam, in her acceptance speech, said: "Standing before you I am filled with immense gratitude as I accept the honour and responsibility of this leadership position.
"Your trust in me is not taken lightly. It is a privilege to join an outstanding team of women, including deputy mayor Noksie Kolwapi and newly elected speaker Mavis Busakwe.
"Together we stand on the brink of a new era, where equality is not just an aspiration but a reality. Today we open a new chapter in leadership, one defined by collaboration, inclusion and shared purpose."
She ended with a quote from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: "In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
Tertius Simmers, DA provincial leader, and Cathy Labuschagne MP, Bitou's constituency head, in a joint statement welcomed Kamkam as mayor, saying it was "a historic moment for Bitou", coming while the country celebrates Women's Month.
"The election of mayor Kamkam amplifies the DA's fairness and diversity stance on appointing strong and fearless women in leadership capacities," said the joint statement.
"Mayor Kamkam has the full support of the DA Bitou caucus and the new joint caucus of the coalition partners.
"We wish her success in the difficult task ahead in the remaining two years of this term, leading up to the 2026 local government elections."
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