The Speaker will in all matters of Council have the casting vote, except with legislative matters and voting on new municipal bylaws. 

The motion of no confidence against the Mayor was brought forward by Cllr Amanda Swart (ANC), signed by the remaining four ANC councillors.  One can assume that ANC voting will be along party lines (5 votes).

 Scenario 1 – should the Speaker vote against the motion  (5x DA Votes + 1x VF+): 

All will continue as per normal.  The Mayor will not be removed. 

Scenario 2 – should the Speaker vote for the motion with the 5x ANC councillors: 

The Mayor will be removed from office, and a new mayor immediately voted in.  In all probability, if rumour is anything to go by, the VF+ councillor will be the selected Mayoral candidate, and the Speaker position will be vacated.  In this case a speaker will be elected at the same meeting.  With the help of the VF+ vote, it could be probable for an ANC councillor to be elected as Speaker. 

Should the VF+ Leadership not agree with their party representative vote in favour of the motion (as we have seen in the September 2023 motion  to remove the Executive Mayor), they have the option to remove the VF+ representative from Council (and the Mayor’s office) within a 10-day period.  In this case Swellendam will have a ‘hung’ council as no political party wins more than 50% of the seats in Council.  The ANC Speaker will always have the casting vote, which will turn the appointment of the replacement Mayor in the ANC’s favour. 

Towards the end of February Swellendam could very well see a new ANC Mayor, as well as an ANC Speaker.