THEEWATERSKLOOF, Monday 12 October 2026 — Democratic Alliance (DA) executive mayor Lincoln de Bruyn has returned to office in Theewaterskloof after the municipal council reversed its decision to remove him, according to a statement issued by the party on Monday.
The DA said the council voted on Thursday, 8 October, to rescind De Bruyn’s removal following a formal legal demand challenging the earlier decision.
De Bruyn had been removed on 30 September after councillors from the African National Congress (ANC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supported a motion against him.
The reversal restores the DA mayor to office less than a month before South Africa’s local government elections on 4 November.
Council reverses decision after legal challenge
According to the DA, its legal representatives challenged the validity of the council’s decision to remove De Bruyn.
The party said the council subsequently voted to reverse the removal rather than face further High Court proceedings.
The DA described the outcome as a victory for municipal stability and lawful governance.
However, the latest reversal was effected through a council decision, not a new High Court judgment.
The party has not publicly provided the full legal demand or the council resolution accompanying its announcement.
The municipality’s official councillor directory also identifies De Bruyn as executive mayor.
Second removal in two years
The latest dispute follows a series of political changes in Theewaterskloof, where no party secured an outright majority in the 2021 municipal elections.
De Bruyn first became executive mayor in August 2024 after a change in the municipality’s coalition arrangements.
He was subsequently removed through a motion of no confidence, with Freedom Front Plus councillor Theunis Zimmerman elected to replace him.
The DA challenged that process in the Western Cape High Court.
The court ruled that the removal and Zimmerman’s subsequent election were unlawful and invalid, restoring De Bruyn to office.
The judgment identified procedural defects in the council proceedings, including failures relating to the convening of the meeting and the notice provided for the motion.
An attempt by ANC councillors to intervene in the litigation was subsequently dismissed in February 2025.
The earlier judgment is separate from the council’s latest decision to reverse De Bruyn’s September 2026 removal.
Coalition instability continues
Theewaterskloof’s 27-member council has experienced repeated changes in political leadership since the 2021 elections.
The DA won 11 seats, while the ANC secured eight and GOOD three.
The PA holds two seats, with the EFF, Freedom Front Plus and Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party each holding one.
A majority requires 14 councillors.
Different combinations of parties have controlled the municipality during the current term, resulting in changes to the mayoralty and municipal executive.
The latest dispute arose when ANC, PA and EFF councillors combined to remove De Bruyn.
Their decision was subsequently challenged by the DA, which argued that the process was unlawful.
The DA has accused its political opponents of destabilising the municipality.
Those accusations represent the party’s assessment of the dispute and have not been established as independent findings concerning the conduct of the opposing councillors.
Financial recovery remains a concern
The political dispute comes as Theewaterskloof continues implementing a Financial Recovery Plan.
The municipality has faced financial difficulties involving debt, revenue collection and the funding of essential services.
It has also experienced concerns about water infrastructure, electricity costs and administrative stability.
The DA maintains that De Bruyn’s administration has been working to stabilise municipal finances and improve service delivery.
The ANC has previously disputed the DA’s account of the municipality’s financial performance and raised concerns about debt levels and municipal management.
These disagreements have contributed to the broader political contest over the municipality’s leadership.
The return of De Bruyn does not resolve the underlying financial difficulties or guarantee that the current governing arrangement will remain in place after the elections.
Leadership restored ahead of elections
The timing of the council’s reversal is significant.
With the local government elections scheduled for 4 November, the municipality has only a limited period remaining under its current council.
The DA has argued that its return to the mayoralty will allow the administration to continue implementing the Financial Recovery Plan.
Opposition parties will have an opportunity to contest that assessment during the election campaign.
The composition of the next council will determine which parties are able to form a governing majority.
Next steps
The immediate priority for the municipality will be maintaining administrative continuity and implementing its financial recovery commitments.
Further clarity may emerge from the publication of the council resolution reversing De Bruyn’s removal.
The DA has indicated that it intends continuing with its municipal governance programme until the elections.
The next significant political test will come on 4 November, when voters determine the composition of the council and the prospects for future coalition arrangements.
