MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mark Willemse on Tuesday resigned with immediate effect as Speaker of the Eden District Municipality.

Mossel Bay's DA chief whip, Councillor Barnie Groenewald, was appointed acting speaker on Wednesday, 13 June.

Councillor Willemse retains his position as the Knysna Council representative at the EDM, until further notice.

In his letter of resignation, Councillor Willemse thanked the EDM for its leadership and support during the period which he served as Speaker and wished the council all the best for the future.

Willemse was recently elected mayor of Knysna after he and fellow DA councillor Peter Myers supported the ANC-sponsored motion of no confidence in the previous mayor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies.

"A small minority of DA members are acting against the principles of the party and outside accepted DA discipline.

"In 2016, the DA made a commitment to voters to keep corruption and maladministration out of our governments. Regardless of who you are, if you do not share the DA's vision of one South Africa for all and threaten the commitment made to voters in 2016, the DA will not hesitate to take action.

"Our number one priority remains the residents of the province and delivering better services to the people."

This was the message from the the DA's East Region's chairman, Jaco Londt.

In a number of other Western Cape towns, there also seems to be turmoil in the DA ranks.

In George, following the sudden, recent swoop by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on municipal offices, the DA is at loggerheads with mayor Melvin Naik. "Mr Naik is still a member of the DA, however, he is currently being investigated by the federal legal commission for a variety of allegations of misconduct," DA spokesperson Odette Cason said.

In Matzikama, Rhenda Stephan resigned as mayor.

In Berg River, Evert Manuel resigned as mayor.

The Stellenbosch town council was given permission by the DA executive leadership to introduce a motion of no confidence against its Speaker, Donovan Joubert.

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille is challenging in court the DA's decision to rescind her party membership.

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