Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa
Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ICOSA |
| Founder | Truman Prince |
| Founded | January 2006 |
| Split from | African National Congress |
The Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (ICOSA) is a minor South African political party. It was founded by former Karoo District Municipality manager Truman Prince, who was expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) in 2006.[1][2] He was reinstated as municipal manager by the municipal council in June, 2007, after a protracted legal battle, but was fired from his post in August of that same year through provincial vote.[3] Convicted child rapist Jeffrey Donson, formerly of the National People's Party (NPP), was president of ICOSA until his expulsion in November 2023.[4]
The Democratic Alliance/ICOSA coalition took power in the Kannaland Local Municipality in August 2006 when the short-lived ANC-led coalition pact with the DA collapsed. The coalition of the DA and ICOSA collapsed when two ICOSA and three ANC councillors crossed the floor giving the NPP five seats out of nine in the council or an outright majority (the only such council in SA that was governed by this fledgling new party at the time). The DA refused to recognise the new NPP-led council administration as it alleged that the two ICOSA defectors were sacked prior to the floor-crossing window being open and were then challenged in the Cape High Court. As such its former mayor refused to "step down" pending the outcome of the case, creating uncertainty and instability in this beleaguered council.
In 2011, ICOSA regained its plurality in the Kannaland municipality, and has retained its plurality in the subsequent elections.
Controversy
[edit]Leader Jeffrey Donson was convicted of statutory rape and indecent assault of a 15-year-old girl while employed as Kannaland’s mayor in 2008, and his deputy Werner Meshoa was convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice during his tenure as speaker on the Kannaland council. After the 2021 South African municipal elections, with the support of the African National Congress, Donson was again elected mayor and Meshoa deputy mayor, leading to strong criticism.[5][6]
Leadership struggles
[edit]In November 2023, the party's Western Cape provincial chair, Dawid Kamfer, approached the Western Cape High Court in an attempt to remove Donson and his son. Donson was suspended as leader in October, a move instigated by Kamfer. However, the party's national executive committee overturned the decision. Kamfer approached the court, arguing that the NEC's term of office had expired, and that the suspension should stand.[7]
Election results
[edit]National elections
[edit]| Election | Total votes | Share of vote | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 12,386 | 0.07% | 0 / 400 | – | extraparliamentary |
Provincial elections
[edit]| Election[8] | Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | Kwazulu-Natal | Limpopo | Mpumalanga | North-West | Northern Cape | Western Cape | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | |
| 2019 | - | - | - | - | 0.03% | 0/73 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.46% | 0/42 |
Municipal elections
[edit]| Election | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016[9] | 44,242 | 0.11% | 11 |
| 2021[10] | 21,273 | 0.09% | 8 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Truman Prince to hear his fate". Independent Online. Independent News & Media. 14 February 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
- ^ "Truman Prince dethroned". News 24. 24.com. 29 January 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
- ^ "Truman Prince axed again". Independent Online. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ Charles, Marvin. "Icosa in turmoil: Kannaland child rapist mayor expelled from own party". News24. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Action Society calls for removal of rapist Kannaland mayor". The Citizen. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ "'Remove convicted child rapist as Mayor immediately', say Action SA". www.msn.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Charles, Marvin. "Icosa turmoil deepens as it turns to court to help oust child rapist mayor Jeffrey Donson and son". News24. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Results Dashboard". www.elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ "Results Summary - All Ballots" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ "News24". News24. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
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