Drakenstein Municipal Council

The Drakenstein Municipal Council is the elected unicameral legislature of the Drakenstein Local Municipality in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa.

Drakenstein Municipal Council
5th Council
Type
HousesUnicameral
Term limits
None
Leadership
Alderman Stephen Korabie, DA
since 5 April 2024[1]
Deputy Executive Mayor
Alderman Gert Combrink, DA
since 16 May 2016
Speaker
Alderman Koos le Roux, DA
since 15 November 2021
Chief Whip
Alderman Christephine Kearns, DA
since 15 November 2021[2]
Structure
Seats65 councillors
Political groups
  DA (36)
  ANC (13)
  Good (4)
  VF+ (3)
  CDR (3)
  ACDP, EFF, PA, ICOSA, PAC, Al Jama-ah (1 each)
Elections
Mixed-member proportional representation
Last election
1 November 2021
Motto
"A city of excellence"
Meeting place
Burger Centre, Esterville, Paarl, 7646
Website
www.drakenstein.gov.za

The municipal council consists of sixty-five members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Thirty-three councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in thirty-three wards, while the remaining thirty-two are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.

The Council was established in the year 2000 and is currently governed by the Democratic Alliance.

Political control

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The following parties/coalitions have governed the council:

Governing party Years Mayor
New National Party/Democratic Alliance 2000–2003 Christian Johannes George Leander (NNP)
New National Party/African National Congress 2003–2006 Herman Bailey (NNP)
African National Congress 2006–2007 Charmaine Manuel (ANC)
Democratic Alliance/Independent Democrats 2007–2007 Koos Louw (DA)
African National Congress 2007–2011 Charmaine Manuel (ANC)
Democratic Alliance 2011–2016 Gesie van Deventer (DA)
Democratic Alliance 2016–2024 Conrad Poole (DA)
Democratic Alliance 2014–present Stephen Korabie (DA)

Portfolio committees

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  • MPAC
  • Corporate Services
  • Financial Services
  • Community Services
  • Local Labour Forum
  • Planning and Economic Development
  • Infrastructure Services
  • Training and Development
  • Appeal
  • Budget Steering

History

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From 2000 to 2006, the mayor of the municipality was Christian Johannes George Leander of the NNP. It was divided into twenty-nine wards, with a total of fifty-eight councillors.

After the local government elections of 2006, a coalition was formed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Independent Democrats (ID), and Charmaine Manuel of the ANC was elected as Mayor with Wilhelm Nothnagel of the ID as Deputy Mayor. The municipality was divided into thirty-one wards, with a total of sixty-one councillors.[3]

In April 2007, the ID broke the coalition, and formed a new coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA); Koos Louw of the DA was elected Mayor while Nothnagel remained Deputy Mayor.[4]

During the floor crossing period in September 2007, seven councillors (six from the ID, including Nothnagel, and an independent councillor) defected to the ANC, giving the ANC an outright majority (32 of 61 seats) on the council. Charmaine Manuel returned as Mayor, with Nothnagel continuing as deputy. [5]

In the 2011 local government elections the DA managed to turn the tables, and obtained an outright majority on the council, holding 35 seats out of 61. Gesie van Deventer was elected Mayor with Conrad Poole as Deputy Mayor.[6]

In May 2016, Mayor Van Deventer resigned and Deputy Mayor Poole took office as Mayor. Gert Combrink was elected Deputy Mayor.[7][8]

In the election of 3 August 2016 the Democratic Alliance (DA) obtained a majority of forty-three seats on the council. Conrad Poole was re-elected as Mayor, while Combrink was also re-elected.

Elections

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Results

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The following table shows the composition of the council after past elections and floor-crossing periods.

Event ACDP ANC DA EFF FF+ ID NNP Other Total
2000 election 3 25 27 3 58
2002 floor-crossing 2 27 11 17 1 58
2004 floor-crossing 1 37 13 3 2 2 58
2006 election 1 26 20 1 10 3 61
2007 floor-crossing 1 31 20 1 3 4 61
2011 election 1 19 35 0 6 61
2016 election 1 15 43 2 1 3 65
2021 election 1 13 36 1 3 11 65

December 2000 election

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The following table shows the results of the 2000 election. [9]

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance23,16644.661623,97046.681127
African National Congress21,98442.381322,27343.381225
African Christian Democratic Party2,3444.5202,2724.4233
Alliance for the Community2,1754.1901,7763.4622
Independent candidates1,5773.0400
United Democratic Movement5171.0006911.3511
Inkatha Freedom Party1130.2203640.7100
Total51,876100.002951,346100.002958
Valid votes51,87698.5751,34697.98
Invalid/blank votes7511.431,0602.02
Total votes52,627100.0052,406100.00
Registered voters/turnout93,20656.4693,20656.23

October 2002 floor crossing

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In terms of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and the judgment of the Constitutional Court in United Democratic Movement v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others, in the period from 8–22 October 2002 councillors had the opportunity to cross the floor to a different political party without losing their seats.

In the Drakenstein council, the Democratic Alliance (DA) lost fifteen councillors to the New National Party (NNP), which had formerly been part of the DA. The DA also lost one councillor to the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), while the ACDP in turn lost two councillors to the African National Congress. The two councillors representing the Alliance for the Community crossed to the NNP.[10]

Party Seats before Net change Seats after
African National Congress 25   2 27
New National Party   17 17
Democratic Alliance 27   16 11
African Christian Democratic Party 3   1 2
United Democratic Movement 1   0 1
Alliance for the Community 2   2 0

September 2004 floor crossing

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Another floor-crossing period occurred on 1–15 September 2004. Ten of the seventeen NNP councillors crossed to the ANC, three crossed to the Independent Democrats (ID), and two crossed to the DA. One councillor crossed from the African Christian Democratic Party to the Federation of Democrats, a new party.[11]

Party Seats before Net change Seats after
African National Congress 27   10 37
Democratic Alliance 11   2 13
Independent Democrats   3 3
New National Party 17   15 2
African Christian Democratic Party 2   1 1
United Democratic Movement 1   0 1
Federation of Democrats   1 1

By-elections from September 2004 to February 2006

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The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the floor crossing periods in September 2004 and the election in March 2006.[12]

Date Ward Party of the previous councillor Party of the newly elected councillor
11 May 2005 27 African National Congress African National Congress[Note 1]
12 October 2005 11 Democratic Alliance African National Congress

March 2006 election

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The following table shows the results of the 2006 election.[13]

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
African National Congress21,06242.411920,77941.81726
Democratic Alliance15,63231.48916,11732.431120
Independent Democrats7,96816.0437,97616.05710
Western Cape Community1,1632.3401,7393.5022
African Christian Democratic Party1,1522.3201,1542.3211
Freedom Front Plus7011.4107501.5111
Independent candidates1,1452.3100
Federation of Democrats4370.8803310.6711
United Independent Front2150.4302600.5200
United Democratic Movement1000.2003740.7500
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania880.1802170.4400
Total49,663100.003149,697100.003061
Valid votes49,66398.7749,69798.78
Invalid/blank votes6171.236131.22
Total votes50,280100.0050,310100.00
Registered voters/turnout100,55250.00100,55250.03

By-elections from March 2006 to August 2007

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The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the election in March 2006 and the floor crossing period in September 2007.[12]

Date Ward Party of the previous councillor Party of the newly elected councillor
6 December 2006 23 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
27 June 2007 27 African National Congress Independent Democrats

September 2007 floor crossing

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The final floor-crossing period occurred on 1–15 September 2007; floor-crossing was subsequently abolished in 2008 by the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution. In the Drakenstein council, the Independent Democrats lost five councillors to the African National Congress (ANC) and three to the new National People's Party. The single councillor from the Federation of Democrats also crossed to the ANC.[14]

Party Seats before Net change Seats after
African National Congress 25   6 31
Democratic Alliance 20   0 20
Independent Democrats 11   8 3
National People's Party   3 3
Western Cape Community 2   0 2
African Christian Democratic Party 1   0 1
Freedom Front Plus 1   0 1
Federation of Democrats 1   1 0

By-elections from September 2007 to May 2011

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The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the floor crossing period in September 2007 and the election in May 2011. [12]

Date Ward Party of the previous councillor Party of the newly elected councillor
10 December 2008 7 African National Congress[Note 2] Independent Democrats
21 African National Congress Independent[Note 3]
26 African National Congress Democratic Alliance
28 African National Congress Democratic Alliance
30 African National Congress Independent Democrats

May 2011 election

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The following table shows the results of the 2011 election.[15]

 
PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance41,82856.172242,70757.581335
African National Congress22,60430.36923,21431.301019
National People's Party2,8333.8002,6913.6322
Congress of the People2,3043.0902,3363.1522
Independent candidates1,7432.3400
African Christian Democratic Party6790.9108011.0811
South African Progressive Civic Organisation5640.7605020.6811
People's Democratic Movement5510.7404590.6211
United Christian Democratic Party3290.4402830.3800
Khoisan Party2620.3502980.4000
Democratic Christian Party2070.2803070.4100
Freedom Front Plus2980.4002140.2900
African Bond of Unity1460.2001200.1600
Western Cape Community930.1201130.1500
National Independent Civic Organisation220.0301240.1700
Total74,463100.003174,169100.003061
Valid votes74,46399.1074,16998.81
Invalid/blank votes6740.908931.19
Total votes75,137100.0075,062100.00
Registered voters/turnout115,08965.29115,08965.22

By-elections from May 2011 to August 2016

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The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the elections in May 2011 and August 2016.[12]

Date Ward Party of the previous councillor Party of the newly elected councillor
18 September 2013 6 African National Congress African National Congress
5 November 2014 16 African National Congress African National Congress[Note 1]
11 November 2015 14 African National Congress Democratic Alliance

August 2016 election

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The following table shows the results of the 2016 election.[16][17][18]

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance54,49166.302654,19365.751743
African National Congress17,85821.73620,97525.45915
Economic Freedom Fighters1,9882.4201,9012.3122
People's Democratic Movement2,3492.8612910.3501
African Christian Democratic Party1,1801.4401,0851.3211
Federation of Democrats6850.8305430.6611
Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa6380.7805780.7011
Freedom Front Plus5930.7205510.6711
Congress of the People5970.7305030.6100
Alliance for Democratic Freedom5260.6404670.5700
South African Progressive Civic Organisation4610.5604100.5000
Community Party2690.3301970.2400
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania1680.2002270.2800
Khoisan Revolution1890.2301700.2100
Patriotic Alliance1240.1501740.2100
Peoples Alliance310.040640.0800
South Africa People's Party320.040440.0500
Civic Independent110.010480.0600
Independent candidates00.0000
Total82,190100.003382,421100.003265
Valid votes82,19098.4182,42198.73
Invalid/blank votes1,3291.591,0561.27
Total votes83,519100.0083,477100.00
Registered voters/turnout129,26564.61129,26564.58

By-elections from August 2016 to November 2021

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The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the elections in August 2016 and November 2021.[12]

Date Ward Party of the previous councillor Party of the newly elected councillor
11 November 2020[Note 4] 3 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance

November 2021 election

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The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.[19]

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance36,38754.922637,19455.901036
African National Congress12,88819.45713,14319.75613
Good3,7685.6903,9916.0044
Freedom Front Plus3,4655.2303,0364.5633
Concerned Drakenstein Residents2,9224.4102,7174.0833
African Christian Democratic Party1,3622.0601,3292.0011
Economic Freedom Fighters1,2831.9401,2941.9411
Patriotic Alliance8071.2208451.2711
Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa7731.1707381.1111
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania5850.8805620.8411
Al Jama-ah4100.6203790.5711
National Freedom Party2640.4002820.4200
Cape Independence Party2290.3502440.3700
Africa Restoration Alliance2500.3802150.3200
People's Democratic Movement1850.2801950.2900
Transforming Drakenstein Community Forum1590.2401590.2400
Independent candidates2070.3100
Cape Coloured Congress1510.2300
Spectrum National Party420.060960.1400
Community Party630.100600.0900
African Covenant500.080610.0900
Total66,250100.003366,540100.003265
Valid votes66,25099.1466,54099.11
Invalid/blank votes5730.865980.89
Total votes66,823100.0067,138100.00
Registered voters/turnout131,18250.94131,18251.18

By-elections from November 2021

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The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period from November 2021. [20]

Date Ward Party of the previous councillor Party of the newly elected councillor
23 November 2022[21] 17 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Elected uncontested as no other candidates were nominated.
  2. ^ The former councillor was elected for the Independent Democrats but had since crossed the floor to the African National Congress.
  3. ^ The former councillor was re-elected to the ward as an independent.
  4. ^ By-election was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ Adams, Rasaad. "DA se Stephen Korabie as nuwe Drakenstein-munisipaliteit-burgemeester verkies". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  2. ^ "New office bearers in the council". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  3. ^ drakenstein municipality - IIS Windows Server. Retrieved on 3 August 2019.
  4. ^ Pretorius, Maahir (22 April 2007). "Drama at Wellington council". News24. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  5. ^ "ANC gets Drakenstein and Knysna". News24. Cape Town. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  6. ^ DA leadership gets reshuffle in province, IOL, 12 May 2014. Retrieved on 3 August 2019.
  7. ^ Mayor Gesie van Deventer resigns, Paarl Post, 13 May 2016. Retrieved on 3 August 2019.
  8. ^ New mayor for Drakenstein. Retrieved on 3 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Local Government Elections 2000 - Seat Calculation Detail: Drakenstein" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  10. ^ "2002 Detailed Floor Crossing Report" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  11. ^ "2004 Floor Crossing - Summary report" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Municipal By-elections results". Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Local Government Elections 2006 - Seat Calculation Detail: Drakenstein" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  14. ^ "2007 Floor Crossing - Summary report" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Local Government Elections 2011 - Seat Calculation Detail: Drakenstein" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Results Summary – All Ballots: Drakenstein" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Seat Calculation Detail: Drakenstein" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Voter Turnout Report: Drakenstein" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Drakenstein". wikitable.frith.dev. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  20. ^ "Municipal By-elections results - Electoral Commission of South Africa".
  21. ^ Sussman, Wayne (2022-11-24). "NOVEMBER BY-ELECTIONS: DA cut down to size by FF+ in Paarl while ANC takes a knock in Nyanga and rural Mpumalanga". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
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