DA’s Kruger takes Garden Route mayor’s seat after council face-off with ANC
The DA has tightened its grip on the Garden Route District Municipality, with Marais Kruger elected as the new mayor following a tense council vote on Tuesday.
Kruger replaces Andrew Stroebel, who stepped down at the end of October.
Kruger went head-to-head with the ANC’s Stephen de Vries in a closely watched contest that saw councillors split largely along party lines.
When the votes were counted, Kruger secured 19 votes to De Vries’s seven, while three councillors abstained.
Kruger was nominated by DA councillor Jobieth Hoogbaard and seconded by Nompumelelo Ndayi, while De Vries was nominated by ANC councillor Christopher Taute and seconded by Vinolia Gungubele.
The Garden Route District Municipality covers the local municipalities of George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Bitou, Hessequa, Kannaland and Kou-Kamma.
In his first address as mayor, Kruger, in a statement, said: “To the people of the Garden Route, we are here to serve you.
“Your needs, your voices and your dignity remain at the centre of our work.
“Let us move forward together, building a district that is safe, resilient, inclusive and full of opportunity for all who call the Garden Route home.”
Kruger, who hails from George, matriculated from Outeniqua High School and holds a diploma in finance from Moonstone Business School.
He is currently studying towards his Municipal Management Certificate at Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership.
A relatively new face in politics, Kruger entered the political arena in 2021 and serves as the Ward 22 councillor in George.
Until February, he was the community safety and ffinancial services political head at the George Municipality.
More recently, he held the position of Council Whip at the Garden Route District Municipality before being elected mayor.
At the same special council meeting, councillor Koos Malooi was elected as the new Council Whip, defeating Clodia Lichaba in another vote that mirrored the mayoral outcome.
Malooi received 19 votes, Lichaba seven, and three councillors abstained.
IOL News