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Notice of the election of Speaker of Garden Route District Municipality

This serves as official notification that Cllr Eleanore Bouw-Spies, on Thursday, 13 December 2018, during a Special Council Meeting, was inaugurated in as Councillor of the Garden Route District Council.Soon after her inauguration, she was also elected as the Speaker of the Garden Route District Municipality.

Cllr Eleanore Bouw-Spies, soon after being elected as the new Speaker of the Garden Route District Municipality.

Council warmly welcomed Cllr Bouw-Spies as the new Speaker of the Garden Route District Municipality.  Cllr Piet van der Hoven said:  “We have full confidence in your ability to fulfill your task with dignity and fairness. Councillor Claudia Lichaba welcomed Cllr Bouw-Spies and said: “Congratulations, now we have a clear direction going forward and for that you should direct us with your leadership. We have now a lot of women in leadership positions,” she added.

Cllr Eleanore Bouw-Spies, chairing her first Council meeting, with Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Clive Africa (left) and Ms Daphne October, Acting Executive Manager for Corporate Services (right).

The Speaker position became vacant after Councillor Mark Willemse (former Speaker) resigned on 11 June 2018. During the absence of the permanent speaker, Cllr Barend Groenewald acted as Speaker of Council and served for a period of 7 months.

Cllr Groenewald in his resignation letter as the acting Speaker, extended a word of gratitude to the Garden Route District Council. He thanked Council for the trust they bestowed on him during his acting period. In response to that, fellow councillors highly praised him for his leadership role during the past months and the excellent manner in which he directed all proceedings of Council.