Knysna mayor Mark Willemse has lost his DA membership after a vote of no confidence, a decision he says will be challenged in court.
Knysna DA constituency head Dion George said the party advised Mark Willemse that his application to be readmitted as a member of the DA was refused.
His membership was ceased due to the outcome of a vote of no confidence in him by his caucus.
The municipal manager, Dr Sitembele Vatala, was advised and he has indicated that he will proceed to action all internal processes.
The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) will consequently declare a by-election to fill the vacant seat and Willemse’s mayoral committee would be dissolved.
Knysna municipality spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhout said Vatala received the DA’s letter on Monday.
In terms of the Municipal Structures Act, the municipal manager has, in the event of a vacancy, 14 days to consult with the IEC and to call and set a date for a by-election.
Willemse has been in the DA’s firing line since his appointment following the controversial axing of former mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies in June last year by a motion of no confidence.
Wïllemse and fellow DA councillor Peter Myers voted with the opposition in ousting Bouw-Spies while the remainder of their caucus left chambers. Willemse survived two motions of no confidence against him last year.
Willemse said that he was disappointed with the decision and was seeking legal advice.
He said the DA’s decision did not bode well for the town as the work that he and his mayco had done had been productive.
Myers said he believed the DA’s decision was unlawful and that until a court pronounced otherwise, to him Willemse was still the mayor.
He said he had been warned by the party against social media posts or to face his own membership being targeted.
Claudine Croutz of the ANC said they would wait for the municipal manager to provide a detailed response regarding what would transpire.
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