DA, ID lock horns over Petrus

Tag : ID lock


THE DA and the Independent Democrats are locked in a power strugglein George over the election of a new mayor as the ID wants its man,Bazil Petrus, in the hot seat.

Petrus, who was mayor while still with the DA, was expelled fromthe party earlier this year and returned to council on an ID ticketafter winning Ward 8 in a municipal by-election last month.

Petrus increased the ID's seats in council to three when he wonWard 8 with a 51 per cent majority. Just before the by-elections,the DA threatened to withdraw from its coalition government ifPetrus won.

The DA and the ANC now have 17 seats each, with the DA's alliancepartners, the Freedom Front Plus and the African ChristianDemocratic Party, each holding one seat. The ID holds the balanceof power and has been in talks with the DA for a month over the topcouncil positions.

It is four weeks since the by-elections and the DA must hold aspecial council meeting to replace interim mayor Flip de Swardt,said ID chief whip Petrus, who confirmed yesterday that the partywas seeking to have him reinstated as mayor.

Speaking on behalf of ID Western Cape secretary Rodney Lentit,Steve Otto said: The ID is not about individualism. We believe inthe capacity, experience and the integrity of councillor BazilPetrus, and we know that all communities in George would benefitfrom his leadership.

ID national leader Patricia de Lille wrote to DA Western Capeleader Theuns Botha and the DA in George on June 13, asking for aspecial council meeting on June 20 to reconstitute the council sothat there could be some stability in the town.

George MEC Marius Swart, representing Botha, said the council wouldonly be reconstituted once talks between the two parties werefinalised.

Petrus, 41, who has been involved in politics since he was a16-year-old student activist, said he was committed to listening tothe voice of his people and was not deterred by his removal fromhis position as mayor in February.