Political power play 

Thabazimbi – Political power play is not only for the Boris Johnsons and the Rishi Sunaks of this world.

After a council sitting on Friday 21 October 2022 the ANC, with a vote of no confidence against Thabazimbi Local Municipality’s mayor, DA councillor Tokkie Swanepoel, and speaker, councillor Ben Thlabadira, elected a new mayor and speaker.

But the toppling of the DA coalition did not last long. In an interview with Platinum Bushvelder, Democratic Alliance’s (DA) political head for Thabazimbi, Desiree van der Walt, explained that the motion to re-elect a new mayor and speaker was not handed in before the council meeting.

She said: “The speaker legally ended the meeting, whereafter the African National Congress (ANC) proceeded to re-elect a new mayor and speaker. This decision was made by the Waterberg ANC after a vote of no confidence against the TLM mayor, DA councillor Tokkie Swanepoel, and speaker, councillor Ben Thlabadira.” 

She added: “TLM speaker, Ben Thlabadira, went to court, where confirmation – in the form of a court order – was given that the Waterberg ANC meeting was indeed illegal because the meeting was legally ended by the speaker before the Waterberg ANC moved for re-election. The Waterberg ANC has until January 2023 to oppose the court ruling.” 

This means that councillor Ben Thlabadira, speaker of TLM, and councillor Tokkie Swanepoel, who was elected as mayor of TLM on 23 November 2021, still carry their titles... for the time being.

DA’s Van Der Walt added: “We believe in a legal system, and we believe in democratic outcomes. All councillors must accept that when you make yourself available to the community through your party, you are at service to your community. I always say that we are servants of the people.”

TLM is not ruled by a single party. It currently functions as a coalition municipality, which consists of five political parties, namely, the DA, Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Thabazimbi Residents Association (TRA), and the Thabazimbi Forum for Service Delivery (TFSD). Together, the five coalition parties hold 12 seats in the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, whereas the ANC holds 11 seats. 

Editor’s note: This political power play is surely only the start of things to come. Thabazimbi needs our public servants to put the services to the people of Thabazimbi and surrounds before party political interests.

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