Political Party Chief Whips Forum
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Good afternoon, Executive Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chief Whips, Honourable Councillors, Municipal
Manager, officials, guests and members of the public.
The Office of The Speaker is a responsibility I hold in the highest regard and welcome you all here
today.We are here, not just for us to execute our annual and monthly calendar obligation, but to set in
motion something far more strategic.
We introduced the Political Party Chief Whips Forum, which is a meaningful platform that will
strengthen the heartbeat of our council. This forum is not a luxury, but a necessity and structured platform to give voice to our political
parties before every council meeting. Political party voices is to facilitate consensus to ensure that council decisions are well-informed,
representative, and administratively executable.
WHY IS THIS FORUM SO IMPORTANT?
We must acknowledge that local government is the domain of government closest to the people.
As you all know, according to the Municipal Structures Act, the Speaker's role is to preside over
council meetings.
This role is to ensure compliance with the rules of order and the code of conduct and promote
internal democracy. These are not ceremonial functions. They are important strategic controls to help guide how we
work – and the Chief Whips Forum is one of those key tools that will help make that happen.
The Chief Whips Forum is aligned with Chapter 4 of the Structures Act, which calls for internal
procedures that enable effective governance, – which encourage pre-council engagements to
promote procedural clarity and political consensus.
In that spirit, this forum becomes a preparatory council space where party whips are empowered
to deliberation on effective governance by;
Coordinating political party positions
Clarifying technical or legal uncertainties in agenda items,
Identifying and resolving potential areas of contention before they reach the floor of council,
And most importantly, ensuring that each party’s voice is not just heard but respected.
ON LESSONS FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES
Theewaterskloof is not inventing the wheel, but we are making it fit our council.
In other Western Cape municipalities Party Whip Forums have matured into critical pre-decision-
making bodies. They’ve improved council functionality by reducing procedural delays, increasing accountability,
and enabling faster and more strategic resolutions that affect real service delivery outcomes.
They & #39 have shown us that when political differences are addressed through dialogue and respect
before council meetings, the meetings themselves become more about decisions than divisions.
ON STRATEGIC INTENT OF THE FORUM
This is a platform of intent – and it is an enabler where we can realign around shared priorities,
while acknowledging our political differences.
THE WHIPS FORUM ALLOWS US TO:
Coordinate council business strategically, ensuring a streamlined council agenda.
Facilitate early input from all represented parties to avoid unnecessary surprises or
adjournments.
Ensure technical briefings are understood, giving councillors the clarity needed to debate
issues responsibly.
Create a space of mutual respect, where decisions reflect not just majority rule, but
collective reasoning.
This Forum is not a backroom BUT it is a bridge.
A bridge between the administration and political leadership.
A bridge between different political ideologies.
A bridge between planning and implementation.
And as Speaker, I am committed to walking that bridge with all of you. To walk a bridge that is a destination that is not build for coalition parties but for the collective good of our municipality and our people.
ON GOOD GOVERNANCE;
At its core, the Chief Whips Forum is an initiative about deepening representative voices.
This is to enhance pre-council party communication and transparency to make competent
decisions for the communities we serve. The Whips Forum is a space for precisely that kind of leadership that is rooted in the values of
accountability, inclusion, and consensus.
We know the challenges our municipality faces:
Service delivery backlogs.
Economic and decent jobs inequality.
Investment infrastructure needs.
Council members, these are not political slogans, they are community realities and our people are watching.
They expect us to move beyond debates and into delivery and this forum will help us to do that.
IN CLOSING;
I want to say this: we may come from different political parties, but we share a single oath to serve
the public interest.
This Forum gives us the opportunity to live that oath more fully, with unity in diversity, with dialogue
over conflict, and with purpose over politics.
Let this forum not only be a space for procedural discussion, but for political maturity.
I thank you for your commitment and your presence. Let us build this forum with intent, integrity,
and impact.
Thank you.
