GEORGE NEWS - George DA Councillors are sitting on tenterhooks as the party's top brass decides who will take over key positions in the local council at the next council meeting on Wednesday 24 January. 

The appointment and election of new politicians into the top local jobs follow drastic moves in George announced by the Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Anton Bredell on 16 December.

In terms of a resolution by the DA's National Federal Executive, four mayoral committee members have been demoted to normal council positions as of 31 December. They are Mercia Draghoender, Belrina Cornelius, Gert Niehaus and Johan Stander and will be replaced on the Mayco by other DA hopefuls. Iona Kritzinger is also being replaced as speaker, but will secure a position on the Mayco, as will Michael Nyakati who is being replaced as DA chief whip. Jean Safers is being removed as DA caucus chair.

These moves follow a year-long investigation by the DA into discord and faction fighting in the DA in George. Bredell said the new appointees must ensure that George council operates as a team as the infighting had a negative impact on service delivery in the city.

Bredell has given the green light for forensic investigations into several local issues, including the delay regarding the approval of a preferred site for the new R600-million Mediclinic George; alleged irregular appointments as well as irregular expenditure. Bredell said these investigations may lead to possible prosecutions. "The process will be cold and clinical. If the investigators pick up any irregularities, they will call in the Hawks."

Bredell did not reply to a request for comment this week regarding progress with the investigations.

The DA George Constituency Head Tertuis Simmers is also being replaced by a member of parliament or member of the provincial legislature "who is less involved in George caucus affairs".

DA Regional Chairman Jaco Londt said the Provincial Executive Committee will reevaluate all the constituency head positions and that Simmers's position will then also be considered. "He will continue to play a huge and valuable role in the party's structure in the run-up to the next election. He has a wealth of experience."

Mayor Melvin Naik, who has been ordered by the DA to undergo leadership and conflict resolution training, welcomed the resolution. "I told the caucus that the party is much bigger than individuals. We must now draw a line in the sand and start afresh. We must make George the flagship it should be."

Bredell said the biggest problem in the past was division within the caucus. "We could not get the caucus members to work together as a team. They were divided and pulling in different directions. The new moves will hopefully bring an end to this."

ARTICLE: ILSE SCHOONRAAD, EDITOR-AT-LARGE

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