New DA mayor for Gamagara Municipality

GAMAGARA Municipality in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District has a new DA mayor after a motion of no confidence was brought against ANC mayor Edwin Hantise on Monday.

Henriette du Plessis was sworn in on May 29 after she was nominated for the position of mayor by the DA and won eight votes, with seven votes going to Hantise, during a secret ballot.

Gamagara Municipality is a hung council with seven ANC councillors, five DA councillors, two Gamagara Community Forum councillors and one EFF councillor.

During her acceptance speech, Du Plessis gave notice of her intention to sell the mayoral house, scrap the use of the mayoral vehicle and abandon VIP security measures.

She indicated that the funds should rather be dedicated to much-needed infrastructure and service delivery needs.

DA provincial leader Harold McGluwa said Du Plessis had served as a councillor since January 2015.

“She is well informed of the growing service delivery challenges within Gamagara Municipality and will work hard to turn the municipality around,” said McGluwa.

“I have full confidence in mayor Du Plessis to bring financial discipline to the embattled Gamagara Municipality and to ensure that municipal resources are directed towards urgently improving service delivery.”