Bitou's new mayor confirmed

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou Municipality’s new mayor is Claude Terblanche of the Plett Democratic Congress (PDC), the speaker in the former DA-led coalition in the council. He was elected during today's special council meeting, where a new deputy mayor, speaker and whip were all elected.

The special council meeting was called last week, with the main ambition of the meeting being to serve motions of no confidence in the then mayor (Dave Swart), deputy mayor (Mavis Busakwe) and whip (Annelise Olivier).

The special meeting was scheduled to start at 09:00 today, Friday 2 February, but only started at 11:45 after three requests for a caucus adjournment by the ANC and DA/AUF.

The first motion of no confidence which was tabled and voted on, was that of mayor. It passed, and a vote was cast to choose the new mayor, with Terblanche ultimately winning out the vote.

Sandiso GcabayiThereafter it was the turn of deputy mayor, followed by whip and then speaker. Samkele Mangxaba

Nokuzola Kolwapi from the IPM (Ikhwezi Political Movement) was voted in as deputy mayor, Sandiso Gcabayi (ANC) was voted in as speaker and Samkele Mangxaba (ANC) was voted in as the new whip.

Nokuzola Kolwapi