Stellenbosch will get a new deputy executive mayor after Councillor Mynard Slabbert stepped down from the role.

His resignation came at the instruction of the Democratic Alliance’s Federal Executive last week.

On Tuesday 2 June, Jan de Villiers, the DA’s national spokesperson, said Slabbert’s caucus had lost confidence in him.

“The Federal Executive considered the political confidence of his caucus as the only reason for his resignation, but other various allegations have all been referred to the Federal Legal Commission for further investigation,” De Villiers said. “The party will initiate a process to appoint a new deputy mayor as per our rules and procedures.”

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Deadline to resign

It was last Wednesday (27 May), about six months before the 2026 municipal elections, that the DA brought a vote of no confidence against the Ward 21 (Jamestown and Paradyskloof) councillor.

In a statement issued by its Federal Executive last Thursday (28 May), the party said it was giving Slabbert 48 hours to resign from his post as deputy mayor.

He had been deputy to mayor Jeremy Fasser since he took the reins from Gesie van Deventer two years ago. Her departure from Stellenbosch Municipality was also sudden.

Fasser was officially sworn in as her successor in November 2024 (“Fasser nuwe eerste burger,” Eikestadnuus, 5 Desember 2024).

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

According to the statement, the DA’s Federal Executive applied 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 him.

Slabbert 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.

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More than meets the eye

At this stage it is unclear what exactly led to the caucus’ decision.

Eikestadnuus understands that Slabbert actively campaigned to stand as mayoral candidate for the upcoming municipal elections but was trumped by Fasser.

However, Slabbert has since told media he had no ambitions of becoming mayor and was happy to play a supporting role and is satified to remain on as a member of the Stellenbosch municipal council.

He told News24 the vote of no confidence came after years of raising concerns about the potentially unlawful property contracts transactions.

Eikestadnuus reported on MEC for Local Government Anton Bredell’s decision to conduct a preliminary assessment on these transactions after complaints were raised about possible non-compliance with national legislation.

Bredell said a full investigation could follow if evidence of maladministration or malpractice by the municipality could be found.