Beaufort West’s Surprise Political Shake-Up: ANC Councillor Takes Mayoral Chain from DA

A dramatic council meeting in Beaufort West has left the town with a new mayor, an angry DA, and a political story that residents won’t stop talking about.

Four months without a mayor, then, a curveball

Beaufort West has been running on political fumes since DA mayor Sias Reynolds resigned earlier this year. For four months, the municipality had no official mayor, service delivery slowed, and residents grew restless.

That changed this week and not in the way the DA expected. During a tense council sitting on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, ANC councillor Castro De Bruin was unexpectedly elected mayor. In a council where the DA holds the most seats, De Bruin’s win was nothing short of a political upset.

The numbers that tell the story

The DA entered the vote confident that their candidate, Georgina Duimpies, would secure the chain. But when ballots were counted, Duimpies had just five votes. De Bruin walked away with seven. One councillor was excused from voting altogether.

Acting municipal manager Amos Makendlana announced the result, congratulating De Bruin and urging unity for the sake of Beaufort West’s residents.

ANC hails it as a moment of unity

For the ANC Youth League, De Bruin’s win was more than a political victory. As the league’s Central Karoo regional coordinator, he represents a younger generation of leaders eager to break traditional party divides.

“This is a historic moment,” the ANCYL declared. “It shows the power of unity, resilience, and principled leadership to rise above political divisions for the good of the people.”

DA reacts with swift discipline

The DA’s reaction was immediate and fierce. The party confirmed it had fired a second councillor for “breaking rank” and voting for De Bruin.

“It is regrettable when personal ambitions hinder the recovery of an entire municipality,” said Western Cape DA leader Tertuis Simmers. “We expect our public representatives to uphold DA policies, which have a proven track record when applied effectively.”

Simmers promised a new councillor would be sworn in soon, restoring the DA’s majority and, in their view, the ability to “deliver for the community.”

A sign of shifting local politics?

Political analysts and locals alike are already debating whether this upset signals a deeper shift in Western Cape politics. While Beaufort West residents hope the leadership change will finally get stalled projects moving again, the drama highlights the fragility of party loyalty in coalition-style councils.

For now, the mayoral chain rests on the shoulders of Castro De Bruin, but in Beaufort West’s turbulent political climate, no one is betting on the calm lasting forever.

{Source: IOL}

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