The Patriotic Alliance (PA) made history when they landed their first mayorship.
This is thanks to the ANC in the Western Cape who has forged coalition agreements with small parties to run three hung municipalities in the province.
ANC provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said his party welcomed the historic coalition formed with the Patriotic Alliance, the Karoo Gemeenskap Party and Karoo Democratic Force in Laingsburg on Monday.
Mtsweni said coalition governments were also set to be formed in the Prince Albert Municipality and in the Beaufort West Municipality this week.
“In all these municipalities, working together with our coalition partners, we will constitute the councils as per the agreements reached.
“As soon as the municipalities have met, the Central Karoo District Municipal Council will convene,” he said.
Mtsweni said the agreements were based on principled commitment by partners to ensure service delivery, good governance, redress in favour of the poor, accountability of officials, anti-corruption and stability.
He said the ANC would take the speaker position and representative to the district municipality, Patriotic Alliance mayorship and Karoo Gemeenskap Party deputy mayor position.
PA leader Gayton McKenzie took to Twitter to announce that their councillor, Mitchell Smith, was the mayor in Laingsburg.
“This is history for our party.
“This is the first ever mayor from our party,” he said.
Congratulations @OnsBaizaNie & Mayor Mitchell John Smith of Laingsburg, this is history for our party, this is the first ever Mayor from our party 💚![CDATA[]]>👊![CDATA[]]>🏽![CDATA[]]>👊![CDATA[]]>🏽![CDATA[]]>👊![CDATA[]]>🏽 pic.twitter.com/ZimtnwhMDj
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) November 15, 2021
Last Thursday, the Cedarberg Municipality became the first hung council in the country for parties to enter into a coalition agreement.
The DA, Freedom Front Plus and Cedarberg First Residents Association entered into a five-year coalition agreement.