Today’s Oudtshoorn council meeting marks yet another chapter in the long running saga of opportunistic coalition politics that has left the people of Oudtshoorn paying the price.
Over the past two years, residents have witnessed a revolving door of political deals, changing alliances and leadership battles, while stability and service delivery have taken a back seat.
The pattern is clear:
1.In July 2024, the ANC, PA, VF+ and other parties voted out a stable DA-led local government that had restored good governance, driven development and improved service delivery.
2. In August 2024, the ANC-led coalition removed an experienced Municipal Manager and replaced him with a contract appointment lacking local government experience.
3. In February 2026, PANC removed the very mayor it had helped elect earlier, before installing another mayor.
4. Today, 6 August 2026, the ANC Speaker was voted out with the support of parties that have frequently aligned themselves with the ANC, only to be replaced by a PA Speaker. The ANC Mayor has also resigned, leaving the municipality facing yet another period of uncertainty.
This is not government in the public interest. It is a coalition of relentless corruption and mismanagement, and a cycle of political convenience that has wrecked stability in the municipality, without even a thought for service delivery and good governance.
The people of Oudtshoorn deserve a government that delivers for all, one that will fix roads, maint infrastructure, create opportunities and deliver reliable services, not politicians constantly negotiating the next coalition reshuffle.
Today’s events reinforce what the Democratic Alliance has consistently argued: there is no prospect of lasting stability under a coalition of chaos and corruption. The only way to break this cycle of chaos is for voters to give the DA a decisive mandate to govern.
Oudtshoorn cannot afford more political games. It deserves stable, accountable government that delivers for all.