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26 November 2021 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality council inaugurated – leaders elected

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality council inaugurated – leaders elected

For Immediate Release
26 November 2021

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) held its Inaugural Council meeting yesterday, 25 November 2021, at the Civic Centre in George. The GRDM had to wait for all seven (7) local municipalities in the District (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Greater Oudtshoorn and Kannaland) to constitute their Councils. The Municipal Manager of GRDM, Monde Stratu, led the proceedings of the Inaugural Council meeting until a Speaker was elected.

Being sworn in requires each Councillor to pledge by swearing or affirming that they would be faithful to the Republic of South Africa and obey, respect and uphold the Constitution and all other laws of the country. This legal proceeding was officiated by Senior Magistrate from George, Mr Zeka.

TOP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FILLED

The first voting that took place was for the Speaker of the GRDM. Ald. Georlene Wolmarans from the Democratic Alliance (DA) received the most votes for the position against the African National Congress (ANC) Cllr Chris Taute. Cllr Taute received 15 votes, while Ald. Wolmarans received 18.

The second voting that took place was for the position of Executive Mayor. Alderman Memory Booysen from the DA added another feather to his cap after being elected for this position with 18 votes. He was up against Ald. Virgill Gericke from the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI) who received 15 votes. The 2021/22 – 2026/27 term will be Ald. Booysen’s second one as Executive Mayor for GRDM and third term as a Mayor. He’s was also a Mayor for Bitou Municipality in the past. It is not often seen that Executive Mayors at a district-level get a second term, which is evidence that he has been highly favoured amongst others for being an Executive Mayor for all, no matter their political affiliation. He emphasised his commitment to being a leader for all during his acceptance speech – read it here.

Shortly after electing an Executive Mayor, Cllr Gert van Niekerk from the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) was elected as Executive Deputy Mayor. He managed to win by getting 19 votes against Councillor Richard Hector from GOOD, who received 14 votes. Subsequent to the Deputy Mayor being elected, Ald. Petru Terblanche from the DA was elected as the whip of Council. He is the former Speaker of Mossel Bay Municipality (MBM) – the best run local municipality in South Africa and the first municipality to have held its inaugural Council meeting. Theirs was held on 10 November 2021.

GRDM welcomes its new leadership and Councillors. “We look forward to working with the newly elected Council to continue the sterling work predecessors did for the region,” said Monde Stratu, Municipal Manager for GRDM.

  • View a gallery of photos of Councillors taking an oath of office here.
  • View general photos taken at the inauguration here.
  • Individual Portraits of Councillors are accessible here.
  • View the Youtube stream of the inauguration here.

The list of Councillors who now form part of the GRDM Council, includes:

  • Memory Booysen
  • Georlene Wolmarans
  • Stephen De Vries
  • Clodia Lichaba
  • Viniola Gungubele
    Jobieth Hoogbaard
  • Jacobus Meiring
  • Petru Terblanche
  • Coenraad A Swart
  • Koos Malooi
  • Clive Scheepers
  • Betsie van Noordwyk
  • Christopher Taute
  • Mercia Draghoender
  • Danie Acker
  • Jerome Lambaatjeen
  • Sharon van Rooyen
  • Kaynal Adams
  • Joey Canary
  • Hyran Ruiters
  • Rosina Ruiters
  • Anco Barker
  • Marulyn Kannemeyer
  • Mzwandile Mkonto
  • Nompulelo Ndayi
  • Nokuthula Seti
  • Hilton Stroebel
  • Aubrey Tswenga
  • Virgill Gericke
  • Iona Kritzinger
  • Daniel Cronje
  • Simphiwe Toto
  • Gert van Niekerk
  • Richard Hector
  • Thando Matika

ENDS