Stellenbosch has a new deputy executive mayor. Dr Rudi Buys takes over from Mynard Slabbert who left amid concerns about municipal property transactions being investigated by Western Cape local government MEC Anton Bredell.
From left, executive mayor Jeremy Fasser with newly elected deputy executive mayor Dr Rudi Buys after his election. PHOTO: Supplied/Stellenbosch Municipality
Buys was appointed on 5 August.
With the DA holding a majority in the Stellenbosch Municipality’s council, the appointment of Buys was never in doubt, said Ayanda Tomose, the ANC’s Ward 12 councillor.
Tomose claimed the DA had asked the former deputy mayor to resign because he wanted to fight corruption within the DA and interference within the municipality.
According to an article published by News24, Slabbert was instructed to step down on 28 May after he raised claims about potentially unlawful property transactions that could leave the municipality under financial pressure. Bredell then initiated an investigation into the claims.
When asked about Tomose’s claims, Quintin Smit, the DA speaker of Stellenbosch Municipality, described it as speculation. “That is all purely speculation […] I received a letter of resignation, and that is it,” he said.
For Tomose, the unresolved questions around Slabbert’s exit reflect a broader issue that there is more to his departure. He alleged that certain areas, such as Cloetesville, Kayamandi, Ida’s Valley and Jamestown, do not have housing plans to provide affordable, dignified housing, no plans for economic developments, and no plans to uplift these communities.
These issues have gone unaddressed regardless of who holds the deputy mayor position.
Enkanini, a section of Kayamandi where flooding damages occurred due to poor infrastructure is one of the areas that ANC councillor Ayanda Tomose says the municipality has failed to prioritise for housing. PHOTO: Bulela Sikithi
When approached for comment, Stuart Grobbelaar, the Stellenbosch Municipality’s spokesperson did not directly address Tomose’s allegations, saying the municipality “cannot comment on party-political opinions or broader political statements” and that such matters should be directed to the relevant political party.
“The municipality remains focused on its mandate of serving all communities and delivering quality services to all residents”, said Grobbelaar. “This, together with other independent recognitions, reflects the continued efforts of the municipality to improve service delivery and build a better municipality for all.”
For Nomawisile Getyengana, a Kayamandi-based salon owner, Grobbelaar’s statement does not reflect reality.
“The municipality is failing us as Kayamandi-based business owners,” she said. She also raised concerns about safety and housing.
“There is this thing called a protection fee. I don’t know if they’re doing anything about it, but we are struggling as business owners,” she said.
Stellenbosch’s Town Hall, where Dr Rudi Buys was elected as the municipality’s deputy executive mayor on 5 August. PHOTO: Supplied/Mophethi Mabeba
Tomose said that the ANC did not contest Buys’ appointment, given the DA’s outright majority, but voiced scepticism about what the change in leadership would mean for Stellenbosch.
Executive Mayor Jeremy Fasser was not available for comment at the time of publication.