Nine months after being unseated as mayor, Prince has set his sights on Beaufort West’s top job again.
The controversial Prince lost the mayoral seat during the 2016 local government elections after the ANC lost votes to the DA, who later formed a coalition with the Karoo Defence Force (KDF) to take the reins.
As Beaufort West prepares itself for a by-election on Wednesday, Prince said: “I am ready to serve the people of Beaufort West again.”.
But that’s if the ANC wins Ward 7, which would then pave the way for the party to elect a mayor from two candidates.
Beaufort West is the biggest town in the Central Karoo District.
Prince is no stranger to controversy.
In 2007 he was kicked out of the ANC and started his own political party, ICOSA, but now he is back with the ANC.
Currently, Beaufort West has a hung council following the resignation of the executive mayor, Djorge Malooi in February, just five months after taking the reins.
Three candidates are contesting the by-election: the ANC’s Stanley Nkanyezi, the DA’s Japie van der Linde and the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Bennie Faas.
ANC Western Cape secretary Faiz Jacobs said Prince might have used some “unorthodox” methods and “indiscretions” in the past, but he was reprimanded and took responsibility for his actions.
“Our comrades have learnt from their mistakes and are willing to work for the good of the people,” he said.