STELLENBOSCH – Six months before the 2026 municipal elections, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has asked the deputy mayor of Stellenbosch to step down.

In a statement issued by the DA’s Federal Executive late Thursday afternoon (28 May), the party said it is giving deputy mayor Mynard Slabbert 48 hours to resign from his post.

Slabbert has been deputy to executive mayor Jeremy Fasser since he took the reins from Gesie van Deventer two years ago. Van Deventer’s herself made a sudden departure from Stellenbosch Municipality and Fasser was officially sworn in as her successor in November 2024.

Fasser served as Van Deventer’s deputy mayor following the 2021 municipal elections.

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‘Overwhelming vote’

According to the statement, the DA’s Federal Executive is applying clause 6.2.6.3 of its federal constitution. The clause can be invoked when a party representative has “lost the confidence of his or her caucus”.

A “loss of confidence” seems to be what has led to the party’s request of Slabbert as, according to the statement, the DA caucus overwhelmingly voted in support of a motion of no confidence in the deputy executive mayor on Wednesday (27 May).

Along with his role as deputy mayor of Stellenbosch, Slabbert is also councillor of Ward 21, which includes Paradyskloof and Jamestown.

He was elected as ward councillor following a by-election on 8 March 2023, after the resignation of former councillor Rikus Badenhorst, who took up a position in Parliament in the National Council of Provinces.

The statement clarified that the requested resignation would not influence Slabbert’s party membership or his role as councillor.

At this stage it is unclear what exactly led to the caucus’ decision, but Eikestadnuus understands that Slabbert actively campaigned to stand as Stellenbosch’s mayoral candidate for the upcoming municipal elections but was trumped by Fasser.

ALSO READ: Fasser as DA se burgemeesters-kandidaat vir 2026-verkiesing benoem

Will be replaced

Slabbert was also notably absent from the sitting of the local council on Wednesday. At the same meeting, Fasser tabled the municipality’s 2026-’27 budget.

If Slabbert fails to adhere to the DA Federal Executive’s request to step down, it will “lead to the cessation of his or her membership of the party in terms of section 3.5.1.10. Any such vote of no confidence requires the leave of the Federal Executive before it is moved in the caucus”.

The DA thanked Slabbert for his service as deputy mayor but stated a new deputy mayor for Stellenbosch would be elected in due course.

“The DA, in line with our commitment to govern well, will ensure that our office bearers throughout all levels of government carry the support and confidence of their colleagues and the party structures in which they operate,” the party stated.