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.