File:Inus Bester.jpg

Mr Inus Bester was appointed as leader of the then new South African Political Alliance (SAFPA) in 2000. Bester was a councillor of the Saldanha Bay Municipality from 2000 to 2011 for SAFPA. He also served as deputy mayor, mayor and speaker of the council. In 2011 he was honoured with the title of alderman. As representative of a local taxpayers’ association on the council, he was, among other things, particularly focused on good financial management, not wasting tax money, exemplary service delivery, immediate reaction and solving of complaints, clean towns and residential areas, prompt fulfilment of municipal regulations and productive officials. Even his inauguration as mayor cost the tax payer not a single cent because he refused a formal inauguration ceremony and was merely inaugurated at a council meeting. In Augustus 2007, DA councillor Jannie Uys, said in the Coastal News: “Councillor Inus Bester is our Go Getter and should you have any problems, he is the one to contact!” Gerhard Grobler, publisher of the Olifantsrivier Herald, wrote on 20 September 2007: “Nou ons weet die organisasie het ‘n bewese rekord van veg vir die regte van die belastingbetaler. Raadslid Inus Bester is ‘n getuigskrif hiervoor.” (“Now we know that the organisation has a proven record of fighting for the rights of the tax payer. Councillor Inus Bester is testimony to this.”) On 16 October 2008, Weslander wrote in their editorial commentary: “Irrespective of where one stands politically, one can only admire the guts of Councillor Inus Bester who is standing up for the rights of the ratepayers and does not appear to worry whose toes he stands on in the process – friend or enemy. ‘If it is not right, then it is not right – end of the story’ seems to be his philosophy.”