Cape Town - Controversial Patriotic Alliance (PA) provincial chairperson, Truman Prince has again been touted as the mayor for Beaufort West.
This was announced by PA president Gayton McKenzie on social media this week.
Prince was expected to be sworn in in coming weeks, taking the reins from his wife, Thershia Prince, who was elected mayor of the town in June this year.
Prince, who was previously with the ANC, has occupied the mayoral position in the municipality several times in the past.
Over the years, Prince's political career has been marked by controversy.
He was expelled from the ANC for allegedly “assisting and supporting an organisation that will stand against the ANC in the municipal elections”.
He had then joined the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa), but was dismissed from the party following allegations of public misconduct.
He declined to comment on Tuesday, saying only that if the PA wanted him to lead in Beaufort West, he would “gladly do so”.
A special council meeting to deliberate on the matter was cancelled in the municipality on Tuesday.
Beaufort West Municipality Speaker, Noel Constable, told the Cape Times nothing has been finalised as yet.
“Once it is finalised, I will give all the information with regards to this matter. It is so, that the president of the PA, Gayton McKenzie announced this during his Facebook Live.
But the municipality has not received any formal communication from the current mayor, hence we can’t give a formal comment on this yet,” said Constable.
Spokesperson for Local Government MEC Anton Bredell, Wouter Kriel, said they only learned about Prince’s possible mayoral election through the media.
“It came to our attention via the media. The MEC and the department were not informed. As long as all stay within municipal rules and relevant legislation there should be no issues,” he said.
Truman has been touted for the position with hopes to defuse tensions among the community and the municipality, according to sources.
Beaufort West community activist, Brian Jooste said residents were fed-up with the continuous changes of leadership in the municipality.
“The people are disheartened because of the things that are happening in the municipality. How can a municipality function if you change leadership in administration and political office every week. For too long the community has suffered in the hands of politicians who interfere in administration, some of them are politically connected. I have made a vow to my community that I will expose these perpetrators,” he said.
McKenzie declined to comment on Tuesday.
Cape Times