The DA maintains radio silence on major Political shifts in the Overstrand

KLEINMOND – Almost a month after the DA announced that the then Mayor of the Overstrand, Dr Annelie Rabie would “step down”, there is still no word on who’s going to replace her. While Deputy Mayor, Lindile Ntsabo has stepped up to act in her stead the DA still has not bothered to explain why Rabie suddenly decided to ”step down”. The Party obviously doesn’t think they owe their voters and ratepayers an answer as to why a popular Mayor (at least with many voters) in one of the country’s “best” municipalities suddenly had to “step down” in midterm.

The initial statement about Rabie’s resignation as Mayor by the DA was made on the 19^th of March. It has been reported and not refuted by the DA that Dr Rabie’s resignation followed a vote of no-confidence in her by her fellow DA councillors. The reasons for the rebellion in DA ranks remain unknown. A letter containing their grievances which was sent to the DA’s Federal Executive is apparently now a closely guarded secret.

We know that interviews with the five local candidates for the position of Mayor were conducted two weeks ago. Political insiders have told us that the present Speaker of the Overstrand District Municipality, Archie Klaas is mooted to become the Overstrand’s new Mayor. It makes sense, particularly from a DA perspective, he is Hermanus based, is Xhosa speaking (in fact he speaks three languages fluently) and did not play any part in the political fracas surrounding Dr Rabie.

It has also been rumoured that Dr Rabie would then be moved to ODM in Klaas’s place. Again, that makes sense. To get things back to normal, you’re going to have to redeploy Rabie.

That leaves the question about the Deputy Mayor. Young Lindile Ntsabo is keen and has obviously learnt a lot from his former mentor, Dr Rabie. He’s been all over on social media the last two weeks from picking up garbage to doing standuppers at roadblocks – vintage Annelie Rabie. They could keep him on as Deputy Mayor. The question is how that will play out politically? Having a Xhosa speaking Mayor and Deputy Mayor in mostly white and coloured communities?

There’s also questions about the DA’s popular Elnora Gillion. In 2021 she had to stand back when the DA parachuted in Dr Rabie. She and Rabie didn’t get along and last year Rabie booted her out of the mayoral committee. There’s a local government election coming up next year. If they ignore her again, she could just maybe walk