THE Swellendam council will need to have another council meeting in seven days, following a stalemate to elect a mayor after one councillor chose to abstain from the vote, leaving both the ANC and the DA candidates with an equal number of votes.

Freedom Front Plus councillor Juan van Schalkwyk thwarted plans to elect a DA mayor when he resigned at the end of the council meeting on Monday.

The DA had hoped Van Schalkwyk would help it regain the mayoral chain it lost when he voted with the ANC to remove DA councillor Francois du Rand as mayor.

This decision landed Van Schalkwyk in hot water with his party for siding with the ANC, and prompted an investigation.

Ahead of Monday’s council meeting, DA Western Cape leader Tertius Simmers had welcomed the FF+ Federal Executive’s decision to ensure that Van Schalkwyk would support Du Rand in the mayoral vote in council, saying: “This support is conditional on an investigation into allegations made by Councillor van Schalkwyk against Alderman Du Rand.”

However, they could not anticipate Van Schalkwyk’s surprising move, which went against his party’s directive.

“My dignity is worth more than political maneuvering, and my integrity is not for sale. I will not compromise on what is right. That is why today, I refuse to cast my vote for Francois du Rand as Mayor,” he said. The ANC’s candidate for Swellendam Mayor was councillor Julian Matthysen.

Swellendam municipality confirmed Van Schalkwyk’s resignation but said a vacancy could not be declared because he did not resign in writing.

“Two candidates for mayor (were) received, namely councillor Julian Matthysen of the ANC and councillor Francois du Rand from the DA. The votes cast was 5 in favour of councillor Matthysen and five in favour of Francois du Rand. One person abstained. No mayor was thus elected and a further meeting will be held within 7 days.

“At the end of the meeting the Speaker, councillor Juan van Schalkwyk, informed Council that he resigned with immediate effect as Speaker, councillor and member of the Freedom Front Plus. No written resignation was received. Legislation requires the resignation to be in writing for a vacancy to be declared. The Freedom Front Plus was informed of the oral resignation of the councillor and requested to provide feedback. The IEC was informed as well as the MEC for Local Government, but as no written resignation has been received to date, no vacancy can be declared. The Municipality is operating as normal,” said Swellendam municipal manager Anneleen Vorster.

Van Schalkwyk did not respond to requests for comment on when he would submit his written resignation.

Cape Times