Stellenbosch Municipality has a new deputy mayor — Dr Rudi Buys.

Buys was appointed on Wednesday (5 August) during a special council meeting where he ran uncontested to fill the post left vacant when former deputy mayor councillor Mynard Slabbert stepped down from the role in late May.

“To be given this assignment to serve is an extraordinary privilege and deeply humbling. I am thoroughly committed to our town and all its communities, and consider it more than a mission, but a cause, to work alongside our mayor, fellow councillors and residents to build the proud future we all want for every person who calls Stellenbosch home,” said Buys in a statement.

ALSO READ: DA’s Federal Executive gives deputy mayor of Stellenbosch the boot

Slabbert was asked to vacate the position as deputy in May after the Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus brought a vote of no confidence against the Jamestown local. According to the party, 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”.

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. After his resignation as deputy mayor earlier this year, Slabbert remained a DA member and council member.

ALSO READ: Slabbert steps down as deputy mayor of Stellenbosch

In a statement from the Stellenbosch Municipality, the council welcomed Buys to his new position. “Dr Buys joins the Executive Mayoral Committee with more than three decades of experience in education, public leadership and community service. In earlier roles he served as a spokesperson for the Western Cape Minister of Education, as a Youth Commissioner of the Province and as a member of several national advisory councils to President Mbeki.

“Dr Buys also specialised in education and how to lead transformation at universities and colleges, over time appointed to executive roles and to the governing councils and boards of several public and private institutions. He held appointments among others as faculty dean, chief academic officer, and vice-president,” the statement reads.

Buys studied theology at Stellenbosch University, and went on to serve as a peace monitor during South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. Buys was elected to serve on his local municipal ward committee in 2021 and served as chairperson of the DA’s party branch.

Before joining the Stellenbosch Municipal Council, he also served as a councillor in the Cape Winelands District Municipality.

Stellenbosch’s Executive Mayor Jeremy Fasser congratulated Buys on his election. “Dr Buys is a respected leader with an impressive track record in education, governance and public service. His deep understanding of Stellenbosch, together with his passion for community development and service excellence, will be a valuable asset to our municipality. We congratulate him on his election and look forward to working together as we continue building a Valley of Opportunity and Innovation for all,” Fasser stated.