Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Theewaterskloof come from
Every fact on the Theewaterskloof page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Back to the Theewaterskloof page
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
On the council's website, no date shown: Alderman L. de Bruyn is executive mayor, according to the municipality's Executive Mayor page.
Theewaterskloof Municipality. Page is undated.
Where to look: main text under 'Office of the Executive Mayor' (undated, read 2026-10-18)
As of 1 Oct 2026: Executive mayor Lincoln de Bruyn (DA) was removed from office after a motion brought by the ANC, PA and EFF passed at a council sitting. Theewaterskloof has had five mayors since the November 2021 election.
Cape Argus. Published 1 October 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-2 and paragraph beginning 'De Bruyn, a DA councillor, became mayor in August 2024'
As of 11 Dec 2025: In December 2025 Daily Maverick described the DA as holding the mayoral chain (the mayor's chain of office) in Theewaterskloof.
Daily Maverick. Published 11 December 2025.
Where to look: Theewaterskloof Ward 6 section, paragraph beginning 'The DA will be disappointed' ('if it wants to hold onto the mayoral chain in Theewaterskloof')
As of 5 Feb 2025: Lincoln de Bruyn (DA) is executive mayor of Theewaterskloof, leading a coalition of the DA, GOOD and SRWP. The Western Cape High Court reinstated him in November 2024. It found that his removal by motion of no confidence (a council vote to remove the mayor or speaker) was unconstitutional. In February 2025 it dismissed a bid by ANC councillors to appeal.
IOL. Published 5 February 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-3, 10, 13 and 15
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 27 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 3 of 3, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). Democratic Alliance: 11 (10 ward, 1 party). African National Congress: 8 (4 ward, 4 party). GOOD: 3 (0 ward, 3 party). Patriotic Alliance: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Freedom Front Plus: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
The seats now
Who holds the 27 seats now, counted up to 24 Jun 2026. How we count: This is our own count, not an official IEC table. We start with the 2021 party seats from the IEC. Then we add the party that last won each ward, in 2021 or in a by-election. Party seats stay with their party, and councillors can't switch parties. So only ward by-elections change these totals. An empty seat is counted with the party that last held it. The IEC lists by-elections on 5 Oct 2022, but it does not show who won them. So any ward that changed hands that day is not counted.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave Theewaterskloof a qualified audit opinion for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
Government stepped in
In July 2026, the Minister of Cooperative Governance told Parliament that the intervention at Theewaterskloof is ongoing. It began in November 2024, under section 139(5)(a) of the Constitution.
Department of Cooperative Governance. Published 3 July 2026.
Where to look: reply (a), table of municipalities under intervention, 'Theewaterskloof LM' row: type of intervention, date instituted, status Ongoing
Doubt it can pay its bills
The Auditor-General found a going concern uncertainty at Theewaterskloof in 2024-25, for the second year in a row.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: p. 50 (PDF page 54), 'Sixty-two municipalities with going concern uncertainty and consecutive years in this position', Western Cape, 'Theewaterskloof LM' row; p. 49 explains the measure
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