Henricus “Rickey G” Gysman (centre) is the DA’s mayoral candidate in Oudtshoorn. (Photo: Henricus Gysman/Facebook)
A local radio announcer is the DA’s choice for mayor of Oudtshoorn.
Henricus “Rickey G” Gysman was named as the party’s mayoral candidate in the run-up to this year’s local elections.
“Henricus is not just any candidate. He is the heartbeat of the community,” says Tertuis Simmers, the DA’s leader in the Western Cape.
“For 15 years he was the voice in many homes on the radio. He didn’t just talk, he listened. He didn’t just broadcast, he stood up,” says Simmers about the DA’s choice for Oudtshoorn.
“He is a beacon of hope for a community yearning for justice and opportunity. As a man who will stop at nothing and no one, he has already proven himself to be a fearless fighter against injustice and a voice for the voiceless.”
Henricus “Rickey G” Gysman (centre) is the DA’s mayoral candidate in Oudtshoorn. (Photo: Eden FM/Henricus Gysman/Facebook)
The Oudtshoorn local municipality is currently run by a coalition between the ANC, the FF Plus, the PA, Icosa and other smaller parties.
The coalition has been in control of Oudtshoorn since August 2024 after the previous coalition (DA, FF Plus and other partners) led this coalition to run on the rocks due to unhappiness over Chris Macpherson, the DA’s mayor at the time.
However, Simmers now says Oudtshoorn has been subjected to political instability for too long. “We are confident that Henricus can save Oudtshoorn from parties who put their own interests ahead of the delivery of services for residents.”
Kouga
In the Eastern Cape, Hattingh Bornman has meanwhile been named as the DA’s mayoral candidate for the Kouga local municipality.
Bornman has served as mayor of this DA-controlled municipality since June 2023.
Bornman was elected as council member for the first time in 2016 and served as speaker of the council from 2018 to 2022. He was initially announced as deputy mayor in January 2023 and elected mayor soon after.
Andrew Whitfield, the DA’s leader in the Eastern Cape, says this municipality is emblematic of the fact that where the DA governs, the DA gets things done.
According to Whitfield, Kouga was a broken municipality when the DA took over in 2016 due to decades of mismanagement and corruption under the ANC’s government.
Today, however, Kouga is the Eastern Cape’s most attractive municipality to live, work and invest in, believes Whitfield.
Hattingh Bornman is again the DA’s mayoral candidate for the Kouga local municipality. (Photo: Kouga/Facebook)
The municipality received its second consecutive clean audit in November last year.
Kouga was also recognized as the best performing municipality in the Eastern Cape at the 2025 municipal performance awards for excellence in financial management, stability and service delivery.
Whitfield explains that the municipality has invested in roads, infrastructure and services. This Eastern Cape municipality was also able to obtain a loan of R200 million to upgrade 70% of the municipal road network.
“Under the steady leadership of Mayor Bornman and the DA-led government, Kouga has emerged as a model municipality committed to reliable service delivery, improved public safety and job creation.
“Hattingh has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead and his commitment to the people of Kouga and he has our full confidence. We look forward to the 2026 local government elections and a larger DA majority in Kouga with him at the helm of our campaign,” says Whitfield.