DA mayor reinstated after court ruling
In a pivotal turn of events for the Theewaterskloof Municipality, the DA’s Lincoln de Bruyn has been reinstated as the executive mayor, following a Western Cape High Court ruling that deemed his removal unconstitutional.
A Cape Argus report notes that the court’s decision not only reinstates De Bruyn, but also invalidates the election of FF Plus Mayor Tienie Zimmerman, who had previously taken office with the backing of a coalition comprised of the ANC, PA and EFF.
De Bruyn was ousted just three weeks into his term after a motion initiated by ANC member Derick Appel.
Reacting to the court’s verdict, DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers expressed relief, saying the ruling made with costs sends a clear message about the mismanagement that characterised the FF+/ANC/PA coalition’s brief tenure.
‘De Bruyn’s reinstatement is a crucial step in the right direction for the DA/GOOD/SRWP coalition and kick-starts the journey to bring vital stability to Theewaterskloof Municipality,’ he said.
ANC chief whip Bongiwe Mkhwibiso accused De Bruyn of misleading the court, alleging he committed perjury regarding his status as an acting mayor.
Mkhwibiso insists the court ruling does not mandate De Bruyn’s reinstatement.
‘Perjury is a criminal offence and the ANC will lay charges against De Bruyn for perjury,’ Mkhwibiso said.
In his reinstatement address, De Bruyn reassured his commitment to transparent governance aimed at benefiting all communities.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
